‘The Alzheimer’s/Hearing Aid Paradox’ – New Book by Dr. Robert C. Keefer

alzheimers hearing aid paradox book
HHTM
May 4, 2023

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — Dr. Robert C. Keefer’s new book titled “The Alzheimer’s/Hearing Aid Paradox: In Search of Sanity,” is aimed at helping the 38 million Americans with hearing loss find hearing aids that work. Keefer’s goal is to persuade Congress to mandate Medicare coverage of hearing aids, which he believes would save billions of dollars in Alzheimer’s healthcare costs.

NIH and Johns Hopkins researchers have found that people with untreated hearing loss are up to 500% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s and other major health issues.

Keefer’s book provides a comprehensive analysis of the reasons why people with hearing loss do not use hearing aids and offers insights into how outdated Medicare policies can be corrected to improve U.S. hearing healthcare. The book details the technology and costs surrounding hearing aids and shares the stories of those with hearing loss, along with wisdom from audiologists. Keefer argues that advocacy efforts could lead to changes that save billions of dollars in healthcare expenses.

“This book is for everyone with hearing loss, their families, and every other American who will live to 62 or older. It is also for those Members of Congress, Medicare officials, and insurance executives who still do not realize how much money and heartache could be saved if we simply got everyone with hearing loss to use hearing aids. This book is timely because, as it was going to press, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established a new class of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids that can be sold online and in stores without the need for a medical exam or a fitting adjustment by an audiologist. The FDA established this category of hearing aids because members of Congress and the White House were convinced that the main reason 80 percent of Americans with hearing loss are not getting hearing aids is that they are too expensive. Unfortunately, they are mistaken.”

When asked what he wants readers to take away from the book, Keefer answered, “My hope is to shift the thinking around hearing healthcare and vastly reduce the risk and incidence of Alzheimer’s. We need to enlighten fellow citizens, politicians, Medicare/Medicaid, private insurers, regulators, physicians, clinical researchers, and hearing aid manufacturers about the need for much wider use of well-performing hearing aids for everyone in need. This can help minimize the social and financial impacts of both hearing loss and the disastrous long-term health consequences linked to hearing loss. The impact of the associated costs on our overall healthcare system cannot be underestimated. It only takes one person to cross that tipping point and make a change that can spur countless others to see things differently. That person can be you.” For more details about the book, please visit https://www.archwaypublishing.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/843075-the-alzheimershearing-aid-paradox

“The Alzheimer’s/Hearing Aid Paradox: In Search of Sanity” By Robert C. Keefer, PhD Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 116 pages | ISBN 9781665733199 Softcover | 6 x 9in | 116 pages | ISBN 9781665733212 E-Book | 116 pages | ISBN 9781665733205 Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

 

About the Author

Robert C. Keefer is a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University and earned a doctorate degree in biochemistry from the University of Nebraska Medical School. He has worked for over 30 years in the international medical device, pharmaceutical and diagnostics industries acquiring FDA product clearances and approvals, marketing and business development.

 

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