Hearing Loss Affects People Of All Ages

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When you think about eyeglasses, what do you think of? Most likely your own pair or those of loved ones. If you’re more fashion-minded, you might even think about that funky pair you saw recently on one of your favorite celebrities. You definitely don’t think of old age. But what about when you think of hearing aids? Probably a different story.  

A PR PROBLEM

In the United States, 14 million people 12 years or older have a visual impairment. Thirty million people 12 years or older have hearing loss in both ears “” that’s one out of every eight people. Both eyeglasses and hearing aids correct a sense impairment “” so why are eyeglasses a fashion statement, but it takes, on average, seven years for someone to even get their hearing tested after noticing a hearing loss?  

HEARING LOSS AFFECTS ALL AGE GROUPS

The idea that hearing loss is something that happens to people in their old age simply isn’t true. Significant numbers of people across all generations experience some degree of hearing loss.  

CHILDREN
  • 2 to 3 of every 1,000 U.S. babies are born with a detectable hearing loss
  • 1 in 5 U.S. teens has some degree of hearing loss
  • 1 in 8 U.S. kids ages 6 to 19 has hearing loss from using earbuds to listen to music at unsafe volumes
  • Over 90 percent of U.S. children born with hearing loss have parents with no hearing loss>/li>
YOUNG ADULTS

According to a World Health Organization report, 50 percent of millennials risk hearing loss because of damaging volumes via personal audio devices; 40 percent do so via noisy entertainment venues such as concerts.

ADULTS
  • About 1 in 7 U.S. adults ages 20 to 69 has hearing loss
  • 22 percent of U.S. adults are exposed to dangerous noise levels at work
  • About 1 in 10 U.S. adults experiences tinnitus (a ringing, pulsing, or buzzing only they can hear)
  • About 90 percent of tinnitus cases have accompanying hearing loss
SERVICE MEMBERS
  • 3 in 5 returning service members experience hearing loss
  • Among both active and veteran service members, hearing loss and tinnitus are the most reported health issue
  • 50 percent of all blast-induced injuries result in permanent hearing loss
  • Hearing loss among service members has become a big enough problem that the Department of Defense spearheaded an interactive course that provides early and ongoing hearing loss-prevention training

NORMALIZING HEARING LOSS

Clearly, hearing loss is even more prevalent than vision problems. And it leaves no age group untouched. But the stigma remains, such that only 1 in 5 people who could benefit from hearing technology actually uses it. But there’s a growing online trend of people discussing their lives with hearing loss “” many of them millennials or slightly older “” in an attempt to remove the stigma of hearing loss and hearing aids.

  • Living With Hearing Loss is written by Shari Eberts, who was recognized as a HearStrong Champion for her tireless work to change the stigma surrounding hearing loss.
  • The Invisible Disability and Me is written by a woman with a cochlear implant who hopes to raise awareness of and support those who’ve experienced sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
  • Cosmopolitan magazine’s brand connection to millennial women is so strong that it launched a Cosmo Millennial Advisory Board staffed with millennials who are experts in their fields; Cosmopolitan regularly features articles about life with hearing loss, covering topics from dating with hearing loss to becoming a NASA engineer despite having been born profoundly deaf.
  • The Twitter page Normalize Hearing Loss is “on a mission to normalize hearing loss and hearing aids and other tech the way we’ve normalized glasses,” and encourages users to include @NormalizeHL or #NormalizeHearingLoss in their tweets.

HEARING TECH FOR TODAY’S CONNECTED CULTURE

What’s more, the hearing technology of today is a far cry from the hearing aids of 50 years ago. The digital tech of today is sleek and discreet, minimizes background noise, improves speech clarity in complicated sound environments, and focuses on what’s in front of you rather than taking in and amplifying all sounds equally. Plus, hearing devices are becoming as connected as everything else. You can stream audio wirelessly from your mobile device to your hearing aids, geotag the hearing aid settings for your favorite locations, even hear a phone call in both ears simultaneously “” and control it all on the sly with a smartphone app!

Schedule Your Hearing Assessment

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911.

To schedule an appointment, refer a patient, or ask a question, call us at (512) 398-4000 or fill out the form below.

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Rose Mary Cruz
Rose Mary Cruz
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Very nice people , professional and very courteous.!!!
Sissy Taylor
Sissy Taylor
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Dr Sandy and her team are wonderful! Always smile and helpful. Great attitude and I am happy to be a patient!
wanda taylor
wanda taylor
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The staff were friendly and efficient. The audiologist, Sandy Schick was friendly, informative and took her time explaining what was going to happen and then the results. She explained the differences (pros and cons) in the options of hearing aids I had to select from without trying to "sell me" a particular one. I very much appreciated that. The cost was very reasonable.
Frank Wallace
Frank Wallace
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Great Dr. And Staff. Seen very close to appointment time. Less than 5-10 minute wait.
Travis McDonald
Travis McDonald
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Great staff. One of the best things I ever did was to select Longhorn Hearing for my hearing aids.
Jeff Skog
Jeff Skog
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Bimmer Audi
Bimmer Audi
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The staff is courteous and knowledgeable. The audiologist is top-notch. I would recommend this location to anyone.
Jeffrey Withers
Jeffrey Withers
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Very professional with Texas charm.
ED Greer
ED Greer
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DR Schick is an excellent audiologist and friendly. I will refer anyone to her who needs help with hearing. Her staff is the same way too.
Mike Vaughan
Mike Vaughan
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I always have a great experience at Longhorn Hearing. The staff is professional, caring and friendly. The service is outstanding. They have made my hearing aid journey simple, comfortable and complete. I highly recommend Longhorn Hearing.
Jan Holcomb
Jan Holcomb
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a b
a b
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Absolutely AMAZING experience with Dr. Sandy and the entire staff. After suffering a TBI, I learned I would need hearing aids to assist me “thru life” going forward. Dr. Sandy listened to my concerns, and was able to make suggestions based on my needs. From the moment I stepped in the office to the moment I left my most recent appointment, I have nothing but incredible things to say. So very happy I chose Longhorn Hearing to help me with my hearing aid journey. Thanks so much, Dr. Sandy & team! Heidi B.
Scott Sherwood
Scott Sherwood
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Great to work with in helping me with my hearing issues.
Prude Llanos
Prude Llanos
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Dr.Sandy and her team are awesome. Very friendly,down to earth staff.Most professional audiologist I have ever met. Glad to have them in Lockhart.
Brian Baldwin
Brian Baldwin
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Robin Hart
Robin Hart
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Good atmosphere. Got help with the hearing aid that wasn’t working right.
Tom Woodruff
Tom Woodruff
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Friendly, qualified staff! Dr. Sandy heads up a very good team!
Robert Ogborn
Robert Ogborn
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Dr Schick and all the staff were very customer friendly and very knowledgeable about all my hearing needs and to the time to explain in detail. Which made it easier to take care of all my needs. Lockhart is lucky to have them in town. I would recommend them to family and friends.
Gary Dickenson
Gary Dickenson
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Very friendly and professional. Great experience
Carol Hanna
Carol Hanna
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Puppy ate end of hearing aid and sandy repaired while I cooled my heels. Wow.
Danny Eichholtz
Danny Eichholtz
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Outstanding care and service with a very friendly staff.
Elizabeth Raxter
Elizabeth Raxter
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Dr. Schick-Velasquez and her staff are always helpful and professional. I'm very glad we have them in town.
Google User
Google User
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Great care - won't go anywhere else for our hearing needs.
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