Sympathy for the Deaf

While society has finally begun to progress with equal rights for minorities and other underrepresented groups, we still have a great way to advance with people with disabilities, especially those hard of hearing. Hearing loss affects all races, ages and economic classes, with recent estimates diagnosing 466 million people globally suffering from it. Domestically, almost one in four Americans from ages 20 to 69 who believe they hear well actually have some degree of hearing damage. Additionally, 4.5 million people in their 50’s have some hearing impairment. Yet out of these large swaths of citizens, less than 5 percent wear any form of assisted listening device that would greatly expand their perception of the world around them.  

My father recently got his first pair of hearing aids and noticed for the first time in decades what air conditioning sounded like, after telling us to “not speak so loudly.” Yet, almost none of us look for any help hearing with the many barriers currently existing. Coverage by insurance providers is inconsistent at-best, complicating the process of finding a decent, affordable device. There is little awareness given to hearing throughout life, so it’s confusing to know where or how to get our hearing monitored in the first place. Worst of all, hearing aids are uncool and social stigmas cripple us into fear of what others might think of us with a unique look—this must change. Hearing aids can be expensive, but businesses must learn that employees who can’t hear properly can’t work optimally, and thus, should cover insurance for devices. As global citizens, we can break the harmful stigma against the hearing-impaired and vocalize preventative measures to protect our hearing.

photo credit: Phonak

If you are like me and are content with your hearing, or you’re not, you can get your hearing tested for a baseline understanding. The internet is a great starting place, with several free tests available from Phonak, Miracle-Ear, Beltone, amongst others. If the results are unexpected, check with an ear doctor (otolaryngologist) for a more accurate assessment. 

Hearing technology is quite revolutionary and constantly improving. My father’s device allows him to focus his hearing on certain directions (ie. behind him in the car) or sound profiles (ie. in loud restaurants), which has made him a dynamic listener again, all from the touch of his phone app. He now walks around with a heightened vitality of his senses and the tiny footprint of his devices are nearly invisible to spot when looking at him. For people with more advanced hearing loss or natural sensorineural loss, cochlear implants can be miraculous. Hearing aids can change the way you experience the world, and with the number of those suffering from hearing loss increasing, it is time we accept them and treat them as equals in society.

Sean Kelso is a graduate of Columbia University and incoming medical student.