Hearing loss: What have you been missing?

Nearly half a billion people live with disabling hearing loss

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are 466 million people suffering from “disabling hearing loss” globally. That’s nearly 5% of the world’s population. By 2050, they say more than 900 million people will have disabling hearing loss. No doubt hearing loss is a major issue, but because it often occurs gradually, many people don’t even realize it’s happening until it becomes severe. Until people see an audiologist, they simply don’t know what they’re missing. 

Those who use hearing aids generally experience an improvement in their ability to hear. However, only 17% of those who could benefit from wearing hearing aids actually get them. There are several factors that might deter someone. The most obvious is the price tag, ranging from $1,000 - $6,000, which is cost prohibitive for many. Additionally, not all models deliver comparable hearing experiences, which isn’t surprising given the broad price range. Some users have issues with feedback when noise levels change abruptly or still struggle to hear conversations in loud environments. Other times, it’s a matter of pride or a sense of denial that age and/or lifestyle may be taking a toll on hearing that prevents one from getting hearing aids. 

We wanted to create an app to help both kinds of users. Over the last few years, we’ve built out effective, easy-to-use iOS and Android apps that do just that, and we’re committed to improving them as deep learning advances.  HeardThat can work in tandem with hearing aids to make conversations in noisy environments possible. It can also act as a first step in someone’s hearing health journey by “showing” the user what type of audio is possible. 

One year after debuting at CES, we’ve learned our app provides value in many situations. Here are some recent use cases users have shared. 

The Shopping Couple

Grocery stores have a surprising amount of noise. Between other shoppers, PA systems and music, and checkout noises, the combination of sounds add up to make it difficult to hear. This is amplified now with mask use, which reduces volume by 4 to 12 decibels. One couple reported using HeardThat when they run their weekly errands. They found using it in the car helped them hear one another better and in stores enabled them to converse better amongst themselves and hear store clerks.  

The Hospital MD 

In a 2018 study, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found that 19% of noise-exposed workers in the healthcare and social assistance (HSA) sector experienced hearing loss. Hospitals certainly create loud environments with monitors, staff and patients all contributing to the noise level. One HeardThat user, a physician working in a hospital, said she uses the app when she makes her rounds. It helps her clearly hear her patients over all the other sounds. Not only can she connect with her patients, but she also spends less time in exams because she doesn’t have to ask the patient to repeat parts of their conversations. 

The Remote Student

With nearly 93% of students in the U.S. participating in some level of distance learning in 2020, we’ve become more conscious of the noise levels at home, which aren’t always conducive to learning. Pets, siblings and even traffic in urban areas create distractions. A mother wrote to us to share that her child, who has some learning difficulties, uses HeardThat during their online classes. It helps them focus on the lesson and participate more. 

The Hesitant Grandfather

Thirty three percent of those over the age of 65 have some form of hearing impairment. Much of the Baby Boomer population are grandparents and great grandparents and younger children tend to have higher voices, meaning much of what they say to their elders, especially in noisy environments, can get lost in other sounds. 

A grandfather of four with a family history of hearing loss, had become withdrawn at restaurants and at family gatherings over the years. At 68, he was still hesitant to pursue hearing aids due to gripes he’d heard from his brothers who wear them. Instead, he decided to try HeardThat. He was blown away by the difference he heard while FaceTiming his grandchildren while music played in the background. He exclaimed, “I didn’t know what I was missing!”

Has HeardThat helped you in a unique way? We’d love to hear about your experience.