What's your Hearing Number
SUPPORTING YOUR COGNITIVE HEALTH
What’s your hearing number?
Dr Frank Lin, an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist from John Hopkins University, with colleagues has recently published a study in the Lancet Medical Journal that highlights the importance of hearing aids in supporting our cognitive health. The paper called ACHIEVE revealed that over a three year period hearing aids almost halved the risk of cognitive decline in adults who have a mild to moderate hearing loss and are at risk of cognitive decline. So we are encouraging you to monitor your hearing number so you can be proactive about your hearing health.
The Hearing Number is a simple metric that provides a reference point for your current hearing levels. The number helps you better understand your hearing and how it changes over time. It reflects how loud conversations need to be before you can hear it. The higher your number, the louder you need speech to be before it is audible.
Mild is a Hearing Number of 20 to 34
Moderate is a Hearing Number of 34 to 49
Moderately severe is a Hearing Number of 50 to 64
Severe is a Hearing Number of 65 to 79
It can also be used as a guideline for recommending hearing strategies.
Your hearing number is calculated from your hearing test and it can also be measured at home with Apple phones only using the Mimi Hearing Test or SonicCloud apps. It has been developed by John Hopkins University and led by Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist Dr Frank Lin (see picture).
The Hearing Innovations Team with Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Specialist Dr Frank Lin.
Many of us know our weight, vision and blood pressure. So, what’s your hearing number?