August 27, 2012

Hearing Loss: The Largest Disability in the Country?

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that about 37 million people in the United States have a hearing loss. According to a recent article by CNN’s Jen Christensen, if hearing loss were officially considered a disability, it would rank as the largest disability class in the country.

Though hearing aids are the most widely used treatment for hearing loss, only about 20% of people who need a hearing aid actually get one. One of the biggest obstacles to treatment with hearing aids is cost. Unfortunately, most private insurance plans do not include hearing aid benefits, so most patients are forced to pay for hearing aids out of pocket.

Read below for more information on hearing loss, the “invisible disability”, and the current status of hearing aids as they relate to insurance coverage.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/10/health/hearing-aid-insurance/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

 

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