The Alzheimer's/Hearing Aid Paradox: In Search of Sanity by Robert Keefer

Robert Keefer

Author

The Alzheimer's/Hearing Aid Paradox: In Search of Sanity

In everyday language, the book explains how Johns Hopkins scientists and the NIH showed that 30 million Americans with hearing loss have up to 500% higher risk of dementia (including Alzheimer’s) and falls with broken bones, and yet the vast majority (80%) don’t use hearing aids. It serves as a easy-to-use guidebook to overcome three obstacles (including Medicare policies), so that people can get hearing aids that work as well as advertised and that can dramatically reduce their risk of Alzheimer’s and the other major health issues. The information in this book is critical for advocates of improved US healthcare policy and insurers because Alzheimer’s care is costing American $230 billion/year and this will increase to $1 trillion in 7 years unless something is done soon.

Reviews

Keefer offers readers a meticulous summary of the connection between hearing loss and chronic illness, the science behind contemporary hearing aids, and more in this informative debut. His passion for improving access to high quality hearing aids for the millions of Americans who struggle with hearing deficits is evident throughout, as he chronicles the basics while advocating for systemic change, drawing on his years of experience working in the healthcare and hearing industries. The advice is straightforward and relevant, and the stakes, Keefer argues, are high: “people with hearing loss have up to an astonishing 500 percent higher risk of long-term health issues like dementia, Alzheimer’s, and falls with broken bones.”

If that statistic doesn’t grab readers’ attention, it should. Keefer goes on to note that 80 percent of Americans suffering from hearing loss don’t employ hearing aids, chalking that choice up to three main reasons: barriers with Medicare insurance, substandard audiological care, and “human ego.” If health insurance won’t pay for hearing aids, he asserts, most individuals are forced to sacrifice quality and accept what they can afford—even if that means missing the subtle sounds, nuances, and communication that keep us connected to others. That outcome kickstarts a domino process with far-reaching emotional, physical, and social impacts; hearing loss doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and, according to Keefer, it can damage our physical condition, relationships, and more.

Readers will find a wealth of information here, with useful guidance and handy tips, whether Keefer’s outlining the different types of hearing aids and their costs, reviewing the new technology transforming the field, or reminding readers there’s a glimmer of hope: “you are not alone,” he comforts, and “with the right treatment, [you can] experience an improved quality of life with hearing aids.” Keefer closes with real life stories of individuals with hearing loss, professionals in the field, and resources to champion change.

Takeaway:Informative call-to-action for the effective treatment of hearing loss.

Comparable Titles: Keith N. Darrow’s Stop Living In Isolation, Bella Bathurst’s Sound.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

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