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May is “National Better Hearing Month”
May is “National Better Hearing Month”Before you answer “WHAT?” you should know there are a lot of experts who take this very seriously. Especially, as you might expect, the people at Duracell – the battery-making giant – who are going as far as offering a large number of free hearing tests to help make sure you can hear everything you need and want to.
In case you think hearing loss is nothing to concern yourself with, think about this:
Hearing impairment is a national health issue. According to the Center for Hearing and Communication, it affects 48 million Americans and 80 percent of those affected by hearing loss over the age of 65 do not seek treatment.
Research has found that people with a 25-decibel hearing loss, classified as “mild,” were nearly three times more likely to have a history of falling.
Hearing loss also has far-reaching effects, touching not only those who can’t hear, but the loved ones who feel their family member is slowly disconnecting from them, and life, and missing out on key moments.
Duracell is looking to reach the vast majority of Americans currently not receiving treatment. Untreated hearing loss can lead to isolation and depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
“Hearing loss is the second most prevalent health issue globally. The number of people with hearing loss is more than those living with Parkinson’s, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes combined,” says Dr. Laurie Hanin, Executive Director, Center for Hearing Loss and Communications. “Beyond the feeling of isolation which can lead to depression, research has found that people with mild hearing loss were more likely to develop dementia and nearly three times more likely to have a debilitating fall. These are some of the reasons why it is so important for people to take the initial step of getting their hearing tested.”
As part of its “Stay Connected” campaign, Duracell will initiate 50,000 free hearing screenings around the country during the month of May.
The company has created a film called “Stay Connected” that tells the story of a father who slowly starts to slip into isolation. During important moments like family dinners, he becomes disengaged due to his hearing impairment. Following a concerning event with his baby granddaughter and with encouragement from his family, he takes the first step in addressing his hearing health with a visit to an audiologist. There, he is fitted for a hearing aid, and that device immediately connects him back to the world.
Award-winning actor and director John Slattery (“Spotlight,” “Mad Men,” “Judging Amy”), who lends his voice to the film’s voiceover, knows first-hand about the problem. Speaking at a press conference in New York, Slattery told reporters that his father also suffered from untreated hearing loss before being tested and receiving hearing aids.
The free tests are administered through the National Hearing Test, a quick and convenient over-the-phone hearing screening developed with funding from the National Institutes of Health. It is the only screening test that is scientifically validated, “not-for-profit,” and its results remain private to the user. The test helps determine if a more full-scale assessment by an audiologist is needed.
People can call 1-844-9-Duracell to take the free hearing test or visit http://www.Duracell.com/
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