U.S. News & World Report: Can You Hear Me Now?
3 big steps we can take to lower the costs of hearing aids for consumers.
Can you hear me now? For too many Americans with hearing loss, the answer to this question is, "what did you say?" Hearing aids can help most Americans with hearing loss, but a shocking number do not use them. For many, the high cost of hearing aids is a major obstacle. There are steps we can take to make hearing devices more affordable for more Americans.
Millions of Americans suffer from disabling hearing loss. It is the third most common chronic condition in the U.S., more common than heart disease or cancer. According to the National Institute of Deafnessand other Communications Disorders, "about 2 percent of adults aged 45 to 54 have disabling hearing loss. The rate increases to 8.5 percent for adults aged 55 to 64. Nearly 25 percent of those aged 65 to 74 and 50 percent of those who are 75 and older have disabling hearing loss."
Faculty Referenced by this Article
Dr. Michelle S. Keller is a health services researcher whose research focuses on the use and prescribing of high-risk medications.
Dr. Ron Andersen is the Wasserman Professor Emeritus in the UCLA Departments of Health Policy and Management.
Nationally recognized health services researcher and sociomedical scientist with 25+ years' experience in effectiveness and implementation research.
EMPH Academic Program Director with expertise in healthcare marketing, finance, and reproductive health policy, teaching in the EMPH, MPH, MHA program
Professor of Community Health Sciences & Health Policy and Management, and Associate Dean for Research
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