Better Hearing, Better Living. How Hearing Loss Impacts Adults & Children

Hearing health affects more than just the ability to hear clearly. Untreated hearing loss may impact communication, learning, balance, memory, mental health, and overall quality of life in both children and adults. Because hearing loss often develops gradually, many people do not recognize the signs right away.

Difficulty hearing in noisy environments, asking others to repeat themselves, turning up the television volume, or delayed speech development in children may all be signs that a hearing evaluation could help identify an underlying issue.

Audiologist Shawn Denham, Au.D, explains why hearing health matters, how hearing works, and the common signs of hearing loss in children and adults.

How Common Is Hearing Loss?

Untreated hearing loss can affect more than just your ability to hear conversations. Research shows it may also increase the risk of falls, social isolation, depression, hospitalization, and cognitive decline.

• Around 15% of adults in the United States report hearing loss
• Approximately 1 in 3 people over age 65 experiences hearing problems

Research suggests that patients with hearing loss may be:

• 30–40% more likely to experience faster cognitive decline
• 3–5 times more likely to experience falls
• 60% more likely to experience depression
• More likely to experience brain shrinkage, including a reduction in gray matter

Hearing loss often develops gradually, making it easy to overlook early symptoms. Many people first notice difficulty hearing in restaurants, understanding dialogue on TV, group conversations, classrooms, or while talking on the phone.

Understanding How Hearing Works

Hearing begins when sound waves enter the ear canal and vibrate the eardrum. Tiny bones in the middle ear carry these vibrations to the inner ear, where specialized hair cells convert sound into signals sent to the brain. The brain then interprets those signals as speech, music, and environmental sounds.

When any part of this process is disrupted, hearing loss can occur.

Risks of Untreated Hearing Loss

Untreated hearing loss has been linked to:

• Increased risk of falls and balance problems
• Difficulty communicating with family, friends, and coworkers
• Social withdrawal and isolation, anxiety, and depression
• Reduced cognitive function and memory challenges
• Delays in speech and language development in children

For parents, hearing health plays an important role in a child’s speech, language, learning, and social development. Identifying hearing concerns early can help support communication skills, academic success, and social development as children grow.

Signs of Hearing Loss in Adults and Children

You or your child may benefit from a hearing evaluation if you notice:

• Frequently asking others to repeat themselves
• Difficulty understanding speech in noisy settings
• Turning the TV or music volume up higher than others prefer
• Trouble hearing phone conversations or doorbells
• Feeling like people are mumbling
• Delayed speech or language development in children
• Difficulty following conversations at school or work

When to Schedule a Hearing Evaluation

A hearing evaluation can help identify hearing loss early and determine whether treatment may improve communication and quality of life. Hearing testing may be appropriate for children and adults with concerns about hearing, speech, balance, or communication.

In some cases, hearing concerns may be related to underlying medical conditions involving the ears, sinuses, balance system, or auditory nerves. When needed, audiologists and ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialists can work together to help diagnose hearing and balance conditions and coordinate treatment recommendations.

Let’s Talk

The Boulder Medical Center audiology team provides hearing evaluations and hearing care for children and adults in Boulder and Louisville. BMC audiologists and ENT team specialists work together to provide coordinated care when medical evaluation or treatment is needed.

Meet our audiologists and make an appointment.