Hearing loss & the Elderly

A lot of individuals refuse to acknowledge they struggle with hearing. Seniors who have difficulty hearing might experience sadness or seclude themselves from social interactions to dodge the discomfort or shame associated with not comprehending conversations. Frequently, seniors who have hearing issues might become disoriented, unresponsive, or unwilling to engage due to their hearing difficulties.

Hearing issues that are neglected or left untreated tend to escalate. If a family member is dealing with a hearing issue, they ought to consult with their hearing care professional and explore the various solutions accessible to them.

These may include:

• Hearing aids
  
• Special training
  
• Certain medicines
  
• Surgery

What should I do if I suspect someone I love has hearing loss?

Tackling an issue with a loved one can be challenging, especially when they’re older, such as a parent, or they’re not accustomed to heeding your suggestions. Here are a few tips for handling this type of situation:

• Start a conversation and motivate your family member to discuss the issue. You can initiate the discussion by mentioning, “I’ve observed that whenever we communicate face-to-face, or through a phone call, you sometimes don’t understand what I’m saying, or you ask me to say it again.”
  
• Take along some pertinent reading material, such as the quiz below about hearing loss. Encourage your family member to review the quiz with you, or leave it for them to tackle on their own at a later time. The individual might feel hesitant to address the issue with you, and might require some time to come to terms with the realisation that others have observed their difficulty in hearing.
  
• Motivate your family member to have a conversation with a hearing care professional, or if you go with them to their medical visits, inquire about their hearing loss directly to the audiologist.
  
• Keep in mind to stay calm. Individuals frequently feel self-conscious or disheartened when faced with hearing loss. They don’t wish to be seen wearing a noticeable gadget on their ear. They are uncomfortable with the idea of others realising they might be experiencing hearing difficulties. Assure them that modern progress has enhanced the capabilities of hearing devices, and that they could choose a hearing aid that is both discreet and suitable for their needs.

Hearing Loss Quiz for Adults

Should you or someone close to you be uncertain about your hearing, consider asking these questions:

If you answer “yes” to three or more of these questions, you could have a hearing problem and should have your hearing checked by an audiologist.

• Do I have a problem hearing on the telephone?
  
• Do I often ask people to repeat themselves?
  
• Do I have trouble hearing the other person speaking when there is noise in the background?
  
• Is it hard for me to follow a conversation when two or more people talk at once?
  
• Do many people I talk to seem to mumble or not speak clearly?
  
• Do I misunderstand what others are saying and respond inappropriately?
  
• Do I have trouble understanding the speech of women and children?
  
• Do people complain that I turn the TV volume up too high?
  
• Do I hear a ringing, roaring or hissing sound a lot?
  
• Do some sounds seem too loud or too soft?

If you think your family member might be experiencing hearing difficulties, your physician will direct you to an audiologist. These professionals will conduct tests to evaluate the individual’s hearing capabilities. Should the hearing loss be considered moderate, the audiologist might recommend the use of a hearing aid or other solutions besides hearing aids.

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