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When we think of our health, hearing is not something we often give more than a passing thought to…until we are having difficulty. Or until our partners, family and neighbors complain at our increasingly loud TV’s and stereos. Think about this…how many times did you go to a concert, only to leave and feel like you could not hear?  One of our readers forwarded this information, and I think it’s important enough to share with you. After you have read it, go get your hearing tested. The results may surprise you.

 Of particular interest is that Baby Boomers are leading the most active - and most noisy - lifestyle of any generation so far. And there seems to be a clear indication that Boomers suffer from a significantly higher degree of hearing loss than their parents.  From 1971 to 1990, hearing problems among those between the ages 45 and 64 jumped 26 percent, according to a National Health Interview Survey. There was also a 17 percent increase in the 18 to 44 age group. In California, where researchers surveyed 5,000 people, the rate of impairment jumped 150 percent between 1965 and 1994 among those in their 50s. 

Paired with the fact that the Baby Boomers will live longer than any generation before them, hearing impairment in people over 55 is expected to reach new levels in severity and prevalence in the coming decades (Hear-it AISBL, 2005).
Phonak, a leading hearing aid manufacturer, has a quick test on its Web site to help determine if you have a hearing loss and helps refer folks to hearing professionals in their local areas.

The company also sponsors a worldwide hearing initiative, Hear the World to educate the public about the importance of hearing, the social and emotional implications of hearing loss, and the available solutions for those with hearing impariment.

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