Hearing loss is very common: 36 million adults are affected. About 30% of people over 65 and almost half of those 75 and older have trouble hearing.

If you don't treat a hearing problem, it can lead to more damage in areas of the brain that help you hear. When the nerves don't get signals, they stop working -- like muscles that wither away when you don't use them. That's why it's so important to have the right hearing aid and use it correctly.