SENIOR EARS: HEARING LOSS AND AGING

Aging is an inevitable biological, psychological and social process shared by all individuals. Each individual will experience different changes in these areas at different rates. Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting seniors and it affects all areas of your life. If you are 60 or older, there is a one-in-three chance that you have exerienced some level of hearing loss, even if you are not aware of it.

>> Consequences of Delayed Treatment of Hearing
      Loss
>> Indicators of Hearing Loss or Inner Ear Disorders
>> Common Excuses to Delay a Hearing Assessment
>> Consequences of Hearing Loss
>> Common Causes of Hearing Disorders

Consequences of Delayed Treatment of Hearing Loss

Health professionals know that when the brain doesn't receive complete nerve impulses from the ears, it can actually "forget" how to process sounds into meaningful language. If not corrected early, this condition may become permanent. Because hearing loss caused by aging is a gradual process, and because of past social stigma associated with hearing loss, statistics show that some seniors with hearing loss wait as long as 10 years to address their problems.

The audiologists and hearing professionals at Jones Hearing are passionate about improving the quality of your life through better hearing. One in eight Americans today are 65 or older. Like others, as you age, you may experience hearing loss. There is no need to feel embarrassed or to delay addressing any level of hearing loss you may experience. In fact, you could set an example for others and inspire them to improve their lives, also. With modern advances in hearing technology, there are few conditions that cannot be improved. Silent suffering is unnecessary when help is only a phone call away.

Indicators of Hearing Loss or Inner Ear Disorders

• You notice any change in your ability to hear – talking, watching TV, listening to music etc.
• Voices often sound muffled, indistinct or distorted.
• You frequently misinterpret what is said to you.
• You must often request for words to be repeated.
• You often think people are mumbling or speaking too quickly.
• You find you have trouble following conversation in noisy settings such as restaurants.
• You constantly increase your radio or TV volume.
• It is more difficult to understand women and children than men.
• You realize you are speaking loudly, due to difficulty in hearing your own voice.
• You find yourself staring at people’s mouths to catch visual cues of what they are saying.
• You guess what others are saying to you from context.
• You miss hearing everyday noises such as the doorbell or oven timer.
• You tire easily in social settings due to extra demands on your concentration.
• You “tune out” in large gatherings because it is too difficult to keep up with conversations.
• You begin to decline social engagements for fear of embarrassment over hearing loss.
• You hear ringing or other noises initiating inside your ear (tinnitus).
• You experience pain or a feeling of fullness in one or both ears.
• Loud noises seem unusually loud, uncomfortable, or even painful.
• You experience vertigo or balance problems.
  

If you experience any of these symptoms, a hearing evaluation is recommended. Click here to schedule a hearing evaluation at one of Jones' many convenient locations.

A hearing evaluation can rule out simple problems such as wax blockage and can determine if referral to a physician is necessary. If a hearing loss is discovered, hearing aids may be recommended to improve your communication ability. A hearing aid can dramatically improve the quality of your life.

Common Excuses to Delay a Hearing Assessment

If you have given any of the excuses below, you should consider scheduling a free hearing check-up as soon as possible.

• “I don’t have a problem: other people don’t speak clearly.”
• “My hearing isn’t that bad.”
• “’Time will correct my hearing condition.”
• “I can learn to live with it….I will focus and pay more attention.”
• “If this problem doesn’t improve, them I will go to a hearing professional, and I will certainly  know when that time comes.”
• “I only have trouble hearing in loud places: I will avoid places like that.”
• “I really don’t believe my hearing loss is affecting anyone else.”

Your hearing loss may more evident than you think. Most likely, your loved ones, friends, clients and associates have all guessed you have a hearing loss, but they may be afraid to mention it. In one testimonial to Jones Hearing, a senior stated that his grandchildren thought he was mad at them because he ignored them when they spoke to him. When he learned this, he knew it was time to get his hearing tested.

Consequences of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss has often been called the "invisible disability", but its effects on your quality of life are very visible. Communication is essential to growth, happiness and satisfaction in everyday living. Because many seniors try to hide a hearing loss, they (and those around them) experience frustration, confusion, and even resentment when communication difficulties become frequent and unexplained. Everyday enjoyments such as talking on the phone, listening to music, watching TV, or joining friends for a meal can become occasions for embarrassment, frustration or miscommunication. In extreme cases, the senior may choose to withdraw socially, becoming isolated and disconnected from his environment. Such isolation can result in depression and minor degrees of intellectual impairment. Occasionally, if a senior continually misunderstands information due to hearing loss, it may be misinterpreted as confusion, forgetfulness or a sign of dementia.

Common Causes of Hearing Disorders

• Age-related changes to the inner ear
• Noise exposure
• Accumulated ear wax
• Certain oto-toxic medications (side effects may aggravate hearing loss/tinnitus)
• Other illnesses (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, stroke, Meniere's disease)
• Pre-existing hearing loss from other causes (e.g., childhood infections)