Although it can be a terrifying experience, don’t feel ashamed of losing your hearing. According to the Johns Hopkins Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, over 38.2 million Americans (14.3%) report some degree of hearing loss. That’s nearly 1 in 7 Americans. Although it can be a terrifying experience, don’t feel ashamed of losing your hearing. According to the Johns Hopkins Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, over 38.2 million Americans (14.3%) report some degree of hearing loss. That’s nearly 1 in 7 Americans.

The severity of the hearing loss can depend on age. Adults younger than 80 commonly experience mild to moderate hearing loss, while adults over 80 typically experience moderate to severe hearing loss. It can also depend on sex. At the age of 50, it’s three times more common for males to experience hearing loss than females. The difference between the sexes evens out with older adults. However, while most people associate hearing loss with aging, that doesn’t mean you need to be older to have hearing loss. It can start when you’re very young, even 12 years old.

How do we categorize hearing loss? Using the criteria from the World Health Organization, someone who struggles to hear soft spoken conversations, face-paced speech, or speech in the presence of background noise is probably experiencing mild hearing loss. Someone who has trouble in those situations and also struggles with normal conversations in quiet environments may be experiencing moderate to greater hearing loss.

If you’re paranoid about your hearing loss, you don’t have to be anymore. AFEUSA is proud to look out for our deaf or hard-of-hearing entrepreneurs and offers a unique discount program called the American Hearing Benefits (AHB) through Starkey Hearing Technologies, the only major American-owned and operated hearing aid manufacturer.

With AHB, you and your whole family can take advantage of:

• FREE annual hearing consultations
• Up to a three-year supply of batteries (40 cells per hearing aid purchased per year)
• One year of FREE office visits (limit of six)
• 60-day trial period (professional fees may apply)
• FREE deluxe warranty plan, including loss and damage
• Financing plans available (subject to credit approval)

Losing your hearing can be scary at first, but it doesn’t have to be scary forever. If you haven’t already, we hope you’ll consider joining AFEUSA so we can support you and your journey every step of the way.