Hearing loss is associated with an increased risk of dementia, falls and depression. As people age, more and more of them suffer from hearing loss. According to the AARP 29% of people in their 50’s, 45% of people in their 60’s, and 68% of people in the 70’s have significant hearing loss. Its impact on quality of life is greater that obesity, diabetes, strokes, or cancer.
Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) is essentially a group of individuals who are hard of hearing, a sort of bottoms-up non-profit organization compared with many tops-down profit-oriented organizations. Because one-fifth of Americans are estimated to have some degree of hearing loss, its activities have a potential of improving the lives of nearly 50 million people. It does this via local chapters, state organizations, and a national office near Washington, DC. Local chapters are like support groups, valuable because all attendees have similar problems and can benefit considerably from the experiences and advice of other attendees.