If you’re around age 85 and reading this fact, you might be nodding, “Yep, I hear that.” And indeed, the fact makes sense, given that the likelihood of hearing loss increases as we age, according to the National Institute on Aging.

But with the good news that U.S. residents aged 80-plus are expected to double over the coming years, also comes the silver lining that hearing technology continues to advance right along with them.

Today’s Genesis AI hearing aids are a perfect example of hearing innovation that can help you hear better and simplify your life through a ton of added features. So, hearing loss is no longer something we simply have accept as a “part of life” and move on with.

And why would you want to? When you stop to think about it, hearing is a huge part of experiencing and enjoying life to the fullest. Imagine your world without everyday sounds like birds chirping or leaves scattering in the wind. Or meaningful sounds like your grandchild’s first words or that melodic album that always cheers you up when you need it. And of course, you can’t put a price on the ability to hear and maintain conversations with the people around you.

The potential effects of untreated hearing loss run even deeper than you may think. Let’s explore some of them.