Special Report on Hearing in Older Adults launched on UN’s International Day of Older Persons
Today is the United Nations International Day of Older Persons. To celebrate this occasion, MED-EL presents you with the latest Special Report on Hearing in Older Adults.
This report highlights why good hearing is important at any age and includes the latest scientific studies and research on hearing loss in people over 60 years of age. Specifically, the authors focused on Austria, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Sweden, Spain and the United States, providing a broad overview of age-related hearing loss in Europe, America and Asia.
The latest World Health Organization data, released in March 2018, stated more than 465 million people in the world live with a disabling hearing loss, a third of whom are over 65 years. Projections estimate that by 2050 more than 900 million people will have disabling hearing loss.
New highlights from research studies show:
- Cochlear implants are credited for improving relationships and saving marriages
- Age-related hearing loss is associated with social isolation, depression and more
- The management of hearing loss might have the potential to delay cognitive decline
A range of hearing and healthcare professionals contributed their expertise to the report
“It is important for older adults to hear well to avoid social isolation and depression.” Prof. Dr. Lorne Parnes, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, London Health Sciences Centre, Canada.
“Particularly in view of consequential costs from dementia, depression and falls, there is a call for the identification and provision of appropriate care of hearing loss in the elderly.” Dr. Michael Lerch, Senior Consultant for the Department of Acute Geriatrics and Early Rehabilitation, Helios Kliniken Schwerin, Germany.
“Treating hearing loss can help people remain active for longer and can help keep healthcare systems sustainable. Failure to treat hearing loss accelerates an individual’s progression into costly facilitated or assisted living, depriving our older population of the opportunity to live their lives to the full.” Dr. Ingeborg Hochmair, Founder and CEO of MED-EL.
The Special Report also shares personal perspectives from hearing implant users
“I had high expectations and was not disappointed. After the activation, I could hear again like when I was younger. It was indescribable. It was like having Christmas, Easter and my birthday in one day.” Walter, 63 years of age.
“When I think back, I’m truly surprised how I went without hearing at all for the two years before getting my cochlear implants. They have been one of the best things that have ever happened to my family and me.” Barbara, 80 years of age.
The Special Report on Hearing in Older Adults is available now to order.
For your free copy, please contact MED-EL Medical Electronics, Carmen Kronawettleitner, Fürstenweg 77, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria, phone: +43 577 885 208, email: carmen.kronawettleitner@medel.com or awareness@medel.com.
About MED-EL
MED-EL Medical Electronics, a leader in implantable hearing solutions, is driven by a mission to overcome hearing loss as a barrier to communication. The Austrian-based, privately owned business was co-founded by industry pioneers Ingeborg and Erwin Hochmair, whose ground-breaking research led to the development of the world’s first micro-electronic multi-channel cochlear implant (CI), which was successfully implanted in 1977 and was the basis for what is known as the modern CI today. This laid the foundation for the successful growth of the company in 1990, when they hired their first employees. To date, MED-EL has grown to more than 1,900 employees and 30 subsidiaries worldwide.
The company offers the widest range of implantable and non-implantable solutions to treat all types of hearing loss, enabling people in 121 countries enjoy the gift of hearing with the help of a MED-EL device. MED-EL’s hearing solutions include cochlear and middle ear implant systems, a combined Electric Acoustic Stimulation hearing implant system, auditory brainstem implants as well as surgical and non-surgical bone conduction devices. surgical bone conduction devices. www.medel.com
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MED-EL Medical Electronics
Fürstenweg 77a
6020 Innsbruck
Austria
Press contact
Patrick D`Haese
T: +43 5 7788-0
E: press@medel.com
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