According to a recent article by AARP, men and women communicate about hearing loss differently which can affect how they cope with the problem. Studies found that women were twice as likely to disclose their hearing problem and make a suggestion to improve the listening experience. A woman may ask you to move to a quieter room or sit on the side of “my good ear.” Men in the study who disclosed their hearing loss tended not to make any suggestions on how the other party might try to accommodate. The men in the study typically stated the fact that they were “hard of hearing”, but didn’t go any further. Without offering a suggestion to improve the listening experience men with hearing loss get less from conversations, which can be frustrating them and the people they are communicating with.

Other interesting facts about men and women and hearing loss:

  • Men are twice as likely as women to have hearing loss between the ages of 20-69. This difference is due to the lifestyle and occupational risks that are common to men
  • Women tend to lose hearing first for the lower frequencies. Vowel sounds for example are in the low frequency group
  • Men tend to lose hearing first for the higher frequencies. This can result in difficulty hearing certain consonant sounds
  • Studies are conflicted about hearing aid use, but in general only about one third of adults who could benefit from hearing aids actually use hearing aids

Regardless of gender, seeking out help from a hearing care professional is certainly the best way to find a real solution to your hearing problem. Age-related hearing loss is common for both men and women, and after a while asking someone to “talk into my good ear” will not produce the best listening result.