Here's what YOU need to know.

• Hearing loss is the decrease of hearing or inability to hear (deafness).
• 33% of Adults between 65-74 have hearing loss; 75% of Adults 75+ have hearing loss.
• Annual Hearing Exams are recommended.
• Latest research suggests untreated hearing loss can cause early onset of Dementia/Alzheimer's Disease; healthy bran function.
• Untreated hearing loss can cause joblessness or loss of income. 
• Causes of Hearing Loss in Adults: Noise/Loudness (especially extended/over time), Medications, Ear infections, Genetics, other disabilities, disease
• Over 200 Medications prescribed by a physician can cause hearing loss. 
• 1 of 7 top side effects of cancer treatments is hearing loss.
• Lack of safety is an issue of untreated hearing loss (driving, operating machinery at work, inability to hear safety noises such as alarms, sirens, etc.)

VIDEO: HOW WE HEAR

(Thank you, NIH for this great video tutorial.)

MEDICAL SIGNS OF HEARING LOSS IN ADULTS:

(From Mayo Clinic)

- Muffling of speech and other sounds

- Difficulty understanding words, especially against background noise or in a crowd of people

- Trouble hearing consonants

- Frequently asking others to speak more slowly, clearly and loudly

- Needing to turn up the volume of the television or radio

- Withdrawal from conversations

- Avoidance of some social settings