Market reference guide: This article covers information from both Korea and the U.S. Each piece of information is marked in the body as 🇰🇷 Korea or 🇺🇸 U.S. to indicate which country it applies to.
"These days it seems like you're turning up the TV volume really loud." Or, "You keep saying you can't hear phone calls well." Many families notice that their parents' hearing isn't what it used to be. While it may seem natural for hearing to fade with age, senior hearing loss has effects on overall health that are far too significant to simply overlook.
🇰🇷 Korea According to data from Seoul National University Hospital, approximately 37.8% of the domestic population aged 65 and older has age-related hearing loss. 🇰🇷 Korea The Ministry of Health and Welfare reports that 25-40% of seniors aged 65-75 and 38-70% of those 75 and older experience hearing loss, with an estimated 1.7 million or more hearing-impaired people in Korea. 🇺🇸 U.S. About 1 in 3 Americans aged 65-74, and more than half of those 75 and older experience hearing loss, according to research from Johns Hopkins, with approximately 67.9% of adults aged 70 and older having some degree of hearing loss.
What happens as hearing loss progresses? At first, high-pitched sounds become difficult to hear, and gradually people move into a stage where speech sounds are audible but the meaning becomes hard to understand accurately in everyday conversation. The problem doesn't stop there. 🇺🇸 U.S. According to Johns Hopkins research, even mild hearing loss doubles the risk of dementia, moderate hearing loss increases it threefold, and severe hearing loss increases it fivefold. This is why the pathway from hearing loss to cognitive decline, social isolation, and depression has become a focus of medical attention.
There are signals your family can notice first. Examples include turning up TV or radio volume much higher than before, avoiding phone calls or frequently asking for repetition, withdrawing from conversation in situations with multiple people like mealtimes, or not responding to doorbells or alarm sounds. If you notice these changes, it's good to recommend a hearing test at an ear, nose, and throat clinic.
Be sure to check support programs as well. 🇰🇷 Korea If registered as having a hearing disability, under the Disability Welfare Act, you can receive support from the National Health Insurance Service for the cost of one hearing aid per ear up to 1.31 million won once every five years. The same amount applies to recipients of basic living expenses and near-poor households, while general health insurance subscribers bear 10% of the purchase cost themselves. 🇺🇸 U.S. Meanwhile, Original Medicare (Parts A and B) in the U.S. excludes hearing aids and routine hearing tests from covered benefits. However, many Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans offer separate hearing-related benefits, so you should check your enrollment plan. 🇺🇸 U.S. Starting October 2022, with the FDA regulation revision, adults with mild to moderate hearing loss can purchase hearing aids over-the-counter (OTC) at general retailers without a doctor's prescription, with prices significantly lower than prescribed hearing aids.
If your parents are already using hearing aids, please check together whether they're wearing them properly. Many people feel difficulty handling small devices, and it's not uncommon for hearing aids to be stored away in drawers because people find them inconvenient or feel embarrassed about wearing them. Simply having your family show interest and help encourage consistent use can greatly improve the quality of your parents' daily communication.
Sources: Seoul National University Hospital Medical Information (Age-related Hearing Loss), Ministry of Health and Welfare and Bang Hee-il Hearing Loss and Language Rehabilitation Center (Ministry of Health and Welfare Statistics), National Health Insurance Service (Hearing Loss Patient Ratio, cited in Medipo News), Signia and Hear.com (Hearing Aid Subsidy Program 2024), Johns Hopkins/Statista (Dementia Risk Research), NCOA (U.S. Medicare Hearing Coverage Status), FDA/GAO (OTC Hearing Aid Regulations 2022), HearingTracker (U.S. Hearing Aid Coverage Trends 2024-25)
Note: This article was compiled by AI from the sources cited above. We strive for accuracy, but for decisions about your specific situation, please confirm the latest guidance from a professional or the relevant agency.