If you’ve been considering pursuing hearing treatment for years, you are not alone. In a recent study by the Hearing Industries Association[1], respondents reported that they were aware of their hearing difficulty for an average of four years before purchasing hearing aids.
Though that number has decreased from previous years, patients still report wishing they’d pursued treatment sooner.
Dr. Jodie Mensink, an audiologist with Midwest Hearing since 2003, especially enjoys working with these patients. “I enjoy working with a variety of patients,” she says. “My favorite would be the patient who is hesitant to obtain hearing aids and once fit, asks why they didn’t get them sooner.”
Many of our audiologists are drawn to the field of hearing care precisely because of the difference it can make in people’s lives.
Dr. Jamie Kirchoff, an audiologist who has been with Midwest Hearing since 2007, says, “I have personal experience with hearing loss due to having several sets of tubes as a child. In college, I was fascinated by how deeply hearing impacts communication, relationships, and emotional well-being.”
Studies bear out the difference hearing treatment can make. In a recent survey of more than 1000 hearing aid owners across the U.S., two-thirds of owners say they wish they had gotten their devices sooner.
Survey respondents found that hearing aids improved their daily lives in a variety of ways. The top reasons included:
- Better social life (57%)
- Better mental and emotional health (34%)
- Improved performance at work (29%)
- [Less] Missing out in some way (19%)
- Less fatigue in the evening (17%)
“Hearing loss can be a growing wall that moves us slowly but surely away from the people we love,” says Midwest Hearing audiologist Dr. Carrie Bell. “Treating hearing loss breaks down that wall and makes it easy to share jokes, memories, and dreams.”
At Midwest Hearing, our team connects new patients with technology that allows them to remain connected to their world.
If you or a loved one is experiencing hearing loss, don’t wait! Learn more about the benefits of hearing aids and schedule an appointment with our team.
[1] 1 2025 Hearing Industries Association, Inc. MT2025 Final Report (April 25, 2025)