Unfortunately, aging comes with a great deal of loss and that includes hearing loss. In fact, one-third of all older Americans suffer from this condition. On World Hearing Day it is a good idea to look at the issue of hearing loss in Brooklyn seniors including testing, treatments, and prevention.
Fast Facts
- Did you know that almost 35% of adults between the ages of 65 and 75 suffer from hearing loss?
- Also, did you know that almost half of those older than 75 suffer from hearing loss as well?
The Symphony of Hearing
All too often we take hearing for granted. Furthermore, most are completely unaware that the hearing process is quite brilliant. The sound waves enter your outer ear and travel to the eardrum in the middle ear. Then, the eardrum vibrates the tiny bones to amplify the sound. This vibration of the bones makes waves in the fluid of your cochlea in the inner ear causing tiny hair cells to move and create electric signals which are carried to your brain by the auditory nerve and, voila – you hear. It’s like a perfectly conducted orchestra. Any interruption in this elegant process can unfortunately result in an impaired sense of hearing.
Signs of Hearing Loss
The following are often signs that you or a loved one is not hearing as well as they once did.
- Have you noticed that you are having trouble hearing over the telephone?
- Are you having difficulty following conversations because you miss words or phrases and ask people to repeat themselves?
- Do you have trouble hearing when there is a lot of background noise?
- Is it odd to you that you suddenly think a lot of people mumble?
- Are you cranking up the volume on your radio or TV extra high?
If you are experiencing any of these, it is important that you speak to a healthcare professional about it. You need to understand what is happening and take steps to improve your situation.
Types of Hearing Loss
- Sensorineural hearing loss – This is the most common and occurs when the actual hearing nerve is damaged which is why it is also called nerve deafness. The loss can range from mild to severe and can be caused by: aging, injury, loud noise, disease, drug side effects, or genetics. Ultimately, the treatment for this is a hearing aid.
If this comes on suddenly, you MUST contact your doctor IMMEDIATELY to prevent worsening.
- Conductive hearing loss – This is the result of sound wave being unable to be carried through the outer or middle ear into the inner ear. There could be blockages such as ear wax or a foreign object or there could be fluid from an infection or bone abnormality. Sometimes this can be reversed through surgery.
- Mixed hearing loss – As it sounds, this is a combination of the above two types and would require a skilled doctor or professional to diagnose and devise a treatment plan.
Age Related Hearing Loss
Age related hearing loss is called presbycusis and it comes on gradually. It happens in both ears and it seems to run in families. It usually due to a damaged hearing nerve and can be a result of diabetes or high blood pressure. That is why it is so important to be in touch with your doctor should you be experiencing hearing loss.
Tinnitus is also common in older adults. It is what most people call ringing in the ears. It can be the sign of the onset of hearing loss and can be accompanied by it as well. Like presbycusis, it can be caused by diabetes and high blood pressure as well as side effects to some medications.
Effects of Hearing Loss
Just as hearing loss can be a hidden ailment, so too could be its effects. Since it affects social interactions, many who suffer from it become withdrawn and depressed. Sufferers feel embarrassed by their disability since many mistake them for being “out of it” and confused. Even more, they may be unjustly accused of being difficult, so they just retreat. This slide into isolation has a negative effect on their cognitive ability and they are at a greater risk of developing dementia.
Of course, not hearing properly has a direct effect on their ability to drive. They may not be able to hear common warning sounds. Furthermore, since they are not as attuned to their environment as they should be, hearing loss has also been linked to an increased fall risk. And, it is well known how devastating falls could be to the elderly.
Testing for Hearing Loss
As expected, hearing tests simply measure how well you can hear. How often you check your hearing depends on many factors. First and foremost is, are you suffering from any symptoms? Barring that, you may want to check your hearing more frequently if your workplace is more noisy than normal. Your primary care physician may whisper in your ear to see if you can hear him and decide how to proceed from there if there is a cause for concern. After that he may refer you to an audiologist or otolaryngologist (ENT doctor).
An audiometry test includes screenings for tones and speech to see how well you can hear at different loudness levels and to see if there is nerve damage. A tuning fork is a vibrational test good to determine if you have a blockage such as ear wax. A tympanometry test checks your eardrum and middle ear and an otoacoustic emissions test (OAE) assesses whether there is damage in the hair cells of the cochlea.
Most often, patients go to testing centers, but there are now ways to do some testing online with headphones or even have a house call or audiology concierge. These can be quite helpful for seniors who have difficulty getting around in general or in bad weather. You may want to check with your doctor if these options would be useful to you.
Treatments for Hearing Loss
The most common form of treatment for hearing loss is hearing aids. They amplify the sound and enable you to hear vital things like doorbells, phones ringing, smoke alarms, and the like. The technology has evolved quite a bit over the decades. Gone are the days were you always needed to adjust the volume on the device. May of the new models are digital microcomputers that can automatically adjust the sound thousands of times per second.
You need to have these hearing assistive devices prescribed and fitted by an audiologist or hearing aid specialist. There are in-the-ear, in-the-canal, and behind-the-ear versions which are the most common. There are also different sizes, shapes, and colors. You will need to determine which best suits your needs and comfort level. Here is a Consumers Reports Hearing Aid Buying Guide to help with your decision. Interestingly, there are now over the counter hearing aid devices for those with mild to moderate hearing impairment. Again, it would be best to check these out with your audiologist.
There are also cochlear implants that require surgical placement, but that is usually reserved for those with profound deafness.
Insurance will likely cover your testing, but may or may not cover the device itself.
Prevention & Maintenance
Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do to prevent hearing loss which is due to aging. However, what you can do is be on the lookout for signs that it is occurring and head them off with early intervention. You never want to get into a situation where hearing loss needlessly impinges on a senior’s quality of life. If the loss is due to a disease such as diabetes or high blood pressure, it is important to keep those conditions in check to avoid undesirable side effects. Moreover, it is important not to ignore the obvious such as keeping your ears clean of ear wax and avoiding loud noises in order to keep our finely tuned hearing system in tip-top shape. Of course, hearing is certainly something seniors should discuss with their healthcare practitioner at their annual check-up.
David York Agency Homecare Helps Seniors in Brooklyn
At David York Agency, we understand the many challenges and risks faced by the aging and elderly. We are dedicated to providing care to support them through all of those ups and downs. At David York Home Healthcare Agency, extraordinary service is what sets us apart from other companies Brooklyn that provide home healthcare services.
DYA we could provide direction as to how to manage the total care of your senior loved one. Whatever your care needs, we are there for you, always striving to exceed your expectations. For more information about David York Agency’s qualified, compassionate caregivers, contact us at (718) 376-7755. A free phone consultation can help you determine what services would meet your needs. We aim to provide you and your loved one with the assistance they need. If you’d like to hear more from us, please like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn.
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