As the years pass, are you having increasing difficulty hearing or understanding your family, friends or co-workers? It can start with a few missing or mumbled words. You might find yourself asking others to speak up. Or perhaps there’s a ringing in your ears that won’t go away.
Age-related hearing loss can develop gradually, says the Hearing Foundation of Canada. It might not seem like an issue at first. But the longer it goes untreated, the more troublesome it can become. According to the foundation, more than half of Canadians over the age of 65 will experience some degree of hearing loss.
Hearing impairment isn’t just a concern for seniors. More than 2,000 children are born with a hearing loss in Canada every year. And many people are now showing signs of hearing loss in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Statistics Canada has found that 40% of Canadians aged 20 to 79 had slight hearing loss in one or both ears. Government and academic studies have also shown that hearing loss can increase your chances of social isolation, depression, falls and dementia.
Assistive devices and equipment for hearing loss
Along with physical and mental setbacks, hearing loss can take a toll on your wallet. When you pay for hearing-loss treatment, you may be paying for a hearing aid or implant plus all the services that come with it. That can include repairs, implants, fittings, tests and cleanings. You may also need other available treatments, such as these items:
- Cochlear implants help damaged parts of the inner ear (cochlea) send sound signals to the brain.
- Bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) sound processors spread sound waves through your skull, sidestepping the outer and middle ear.
- Abutments link the BAHA sound processor with the implant in the bone.
- FM systems include a receiver that you wear and a transmitter that the speaker wears. They are useful in noisy situations or when you’re listening to someone from a distance.
- Teletypewriters let you send typed messages across phone lines.
- Telephone amplifiers improve the sound quality of your phone.
- Adapted alarm clocks use ultra-loud sounds or vibrations to get you up in the morning.
Whether you need one or two hearing aids, an implant or several assistive devices, you could be facing a four-figure bill. So how can you get relief from some of this financial burden? Start by finding out what your province or territory offers.
Hearing loss benefits by province and territory
Does your employee benefits plan cover hearing loss?
Looking for more assistance than what your province offers? Check if your workplace benefits include supplemental health care or a health spending account. These benefits might help pay for medical expenses such as hearing aids, which your province or territory may not cover. Ask your HR department what your workplace benefits offer.
If your plan is with Sun Life, call the Customer Care Centre, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. You can also find more information about your employee coverage details in your plan benefit booklet or by signing in to your my Sun Life account.
All of the content provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not professional medical advice, or a substitute for that advice.
