According to the
National Institute of Health, one third of people between the ages of 65 to 74 experience hearing loss. The percentage of people with hearing loss increases to about 50 percent when considering those older than 75. Seniors with hearing loss may experience challenges in their daily lives including:
Difficulty understanding their doctor.
Inability to hear warnings, like an alarm.
Difficulty holding conversation with friends and family.
An elderly person with hearing loss may feel embarrassed or frustrated, which makes it both a health and social problem. Since a person with hearing loss may have difficulty communicating with others, he or she may feel lonely and isolated, and may even experience
symptoms of depression. It is important to identify any hearing issues as early as possible so that the appropriate solutions can be applied.
Signs Of Hearing Loss
If your loved one is demonstrating any of the following signs, it may indicate that he or she is experiencing diagnosable hearing loss.
Is the TV volume abnormally high?
Is it difficult to communicate with your loved one over the telephone?
Does background noise make it difficult to hold a conversation with your loved one?
Is it challenging for your loved one to communicate with more than one person at a time?
Are there frequent misunderstandings with your loved one?
Do statements need to be repeated to your loved one multiple times before they are understood?
If the answer is yes to one or more of the above questions, consider scheduling an appointment with your loved one’s doctor for a hearing exam. Doctors can identify the type and severity of hearing loss and recommend further treatment.
What Causes Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss that is commonly associated with age is referred to as presbycusis, and it often runs in families. Causes of non age-related hearing loss include:
Exposure to loud noises
Viral infections
Bacterial infections
Heart conditions
Head injuries
Tumors
Strokes
Certain industries have been associated with an increased risk of hearing loss due to repeated exposure to loud noise, which characterizes many of the professions within these areas of work. Such industries include construction, farming, airport travel, and certain areas within the music business.
Regardless of the cause, hearing loss can have a significant impact on seniors. Consider the following negative implications.
Social Withdrawal
A senior with hearing loss may withdraw from social interaction because he or she can't follow the conversation. He or she may be misperceived as confused, uncaring, or as losing his or her mental faculties. The senior may decide to avoid attending family activities because he can't participate, the result of which is isolation and loneliness.
Medical Issues
A senior with hearing loss may not be able to communicate with his doctor, which may result in his misunderstanding or misinterpreting medical instructions. The senior may not take his medication properly or schedule the appropriate follow-up treatment. On the other hand, family members may think they are seeing signs of dementia when the issue is actually a hearing problem.
Scams
An elderly person with a hearing issue is more likely to become a victim in telephone scams or other forms of false or misleading advertising. When a senior is openly struggling with his hearing—and may already be experiencing shame surrounding his hearing loss—scammers are given access to the senior’s physical and psychological vulnerabilities.
Dangerous Situations
Hearing loss may lead seniors to inadvertently put themselves in unsafe situations, examples of which include not being able to hear fire alarms or oncoming cars.
Day-to-Day Struggles
A variety of day-to-day struggles are common for those with hearing loss, including:
Difficulty watching TV
Being unaware that someone is talking to them
Difficulty understanding those in public, such as bank tellers, cashiers, or wait staff at a restaurant
Without treatment, hearing loss may lead to a decrease in overall quality of life. Those with hearing issues commonly suffer from low self-esteem, anger, depression, loneliness, and frustration. But by seeking treatment from a doctor as soon as possible, your loved one can be equipped with the appropriate tools and solutions to offset his hearing loss, which will allow him to reestablish an engaging and communicative lifestyle.