The same applies to your tone and voice volume. Some seniors with age-related hearing loss benefit from a speaker using a slightly raised voice, but don’t shout. Be mindful to speak at a reasonable speed as well—not too fast but not too slowly either.
Stigma, and the threat of hearing loss and HAs to one’s identity, is considered a major barrier ( Hétu, 1996 ; Southall, Gagné, & Jennings, 2010 ; Wallhagen, 2010 ). Hearing problems may exacerbate psychosocial declines in older adults, whereas age-related psychosocial issues may aggravate hearing problems.
The NIDCD maintains a directory of organizations that provide information on the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language. Use the following keywords to help you find organizations that can answer questions and provide information on hearing loss and older adults: .
Hearing handicap, rather than measured hearing impairment, predicts poorer quality of life over 10 years in older adults . Maturitas , 72 , 146 – 151 .
Health conditions common in older people, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, can contribute to hearing loss. Viruses and bacteria (including the ear infection otitis media), a heart condition, stroke, brain injury, or a tumor may also affect your hearing.
Here are some tips you can use when talking with someone who has a hearing problem: 1 In a group, include people with hearing loss in the conversation. 2 Find a quiet place to talk to help reduce background noise, especially in restaurants and at social gatherings. 3 Stand in good lighting and use facial expressions or gestures to give clues. 4 Face the person and speak clearly. Maintain eye contact. 5 Speak a little more loudly than normal, but don’t shout. Try to speak slowly, but naturally. 6 Speak at a reasonable speed. 7 Do not hide your mouth, eat, or chew gum while speaking. 8 Repeat yourself if necessary, using different words. 9 Try to make sure only one person talks at a time. 10 Be patient. Stay positive and relaxed. 11 Ask how you can help.
Or, your doctor may refer you to other experts, like an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor) or an audiologist (health professional who can identify and measure hearing loss).
Assistive-listening devices, mobile apps, alerting devices, and cochlear implants can help some people with hearing loss. Cochlear implants are electronic devices for people with severe hearing loss. They don’t work for all types of hearing loss.
Tinnitus is also common in older people. It is typically described as ringing in the ears, but it also can sound like roaring, clicking, hissing, or buzzing. It can come and go. It might be heard in one or both ears, and it may be loud or soft. Tinnitus is sometimes the first sign of hearing loss in older adults. Tinnitus can accompany any type of hearing loss and can be a sign of other health problems, such as high blood pressure, allergies, or as a side effect of medications.
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss, or sudden deafness, is a rapid loss of hearing. It can happen to a person all at once or over a period of up to 3 days. It should be considered a medical emergency. If you or someone you know experiences sudden sensorineural hearing loss, visit a doctor immediately.
Hearing aids are electronic, battery-run devices that make sounds louder. There are many types of hearing aids. Before buying a hearing aid, find out if your health insurance will cover the cost. Also, ask if you can have a trial period so you can make sure the device is right for you.
Even when the person with hearing loss utilizes hearing aids and active listening strategies, it is crucial that others involved in the communication process consistently use good communication strategies, including the following: Face the hearing-impaired person directly, on the same level and in good light whenever possible.
Face the hearing-impaired person directly, on the same level and in good light whenever possible. Position yourself so that the light is shining on the speaker's face, not in the eyes of the listener. Do not talk from another room.
If the hearing-impaired listener hears better in one ear than the other, try to make a point of remembering which ear is better so that you will know where to position yourself. Be aware of possible distortion of sounds for the hearing-impaired person.
They may hear your voice, but still may have difficulty understanding some words. Most hearing-impaired people have greater difficulty understanding speech when there is background noise. Try to minimize extraneous noise when talking. Some people with hearing loss are very sensitive to loud sounds.
Proper lighting and visibility can help elders who are hearing impaired use visual cues to better understand what is being said to them. Be sure to face the person directly while speaking and try to maintain normal eye contact.
Be mindful to speak at a reasonable speed as well—not too fast but not too slowly either. Repeat Yourself . When conversing with someone who has hearing loss, it’s important to remember they may not fully comprehend what you’ve said on the first try. You might need you to repeat yourself .
Polite ways to do so include stepping into their line of sight, calmly waving a hand in their direction or lightly tapping on their shoulder. Try not to startle the person, though.
When someone suffers from hearing loss, it can be difficult and even frustrating for them to communicate effectively with others. Seniors who experience age-related hearing impairment often feel isolated and may withdraw from social situations, which can take a terrible toll on their overall quality of life.
While some elders benefit from assistive devices like hearing aids, not all types of hearing loss respond to this kind of treatment. Fortunately, the use of proper communication techniques can significantly improve hearing and listening performance. The following tips can help facilitate conversations with someone who has a hearing problem.
It is one of the most common conditions affecting older and elderly adults. Approximately one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 has hearing loss and nearly half of those older than 75 have difficulty hearing. Having trouble hearing can make it hard to understand ...
Many people lose their hearing slowly as they age. This condition is known as presbycusis (prez-buh-KYOO-sis). Doctors do not know why presbycusis affects some people more than others, but it seems to run in families. Another reason for hearing loss with aging may be years of exposure to loud noise.
A telecoil is a small magnetic coil that allows users to receive sound through the circuitry of the hearing aid, rather than through its microphone.
ITE aids usually are not worn by young children because the casings need to be replaced often as the ear grows. Canal aids fit into the ear canal and are available in two styles. The in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid is made to fit the size and shape of a person’s ear canal.
Hearing aids are electronic instruments you wear in or behind your ear. They make sounds louder. Things sound different when you wear a hearing aid, but an audiologist or hearing aid specialist can help you get used to it. To find the hearing aid that works best for you, you may have to try more than one.
In addition, some people may prefer the open-fit hearing aid because their perception of their voice does not sound “plugged up.”. In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids fit completely inside the outer ear and are used for mild to severe hearing loss. The case holding the electronic components is made of hard plastic.
An otolaryngologist (oh-toe-lair-in-GAH-luhjist), is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases of the ear, nose, and throat. An otolaryngologist will try to find out why you're having trouble hearing and offer treatment options.
One way of treating age-related hearing loss is with hearing aids. Today’s hearing aids are digital microcomputers that can automatically adjust to sound thousands of times per second, making speech comfortable and natural sounding.
Day-to-day, you should consider avoiding loud sounds, using ear protection when around loud sounds, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Hearing aids that have the unit behind the ear comes in two types of technology , RIC (receiver in the ear), which delivers the sound via wire to a dome or earmold in the canal and BTE (behind the ear), which has a custom earmold that delivers the sound with a tube.
Hearing aids can improve communication with family, friends, and co-workers, which can help maintain a high quality of life. Hearing aid technology is constantly evolving, and improvements such as the use of directional microphones have increased individuals’ ability to understand speech in noisy environments.
30–35 percent of adults between the ages of 65 and 75 years suffer from hearing loss. 40–50 percent of adults 75 and older suffer from hearing loss.2. People with untreated hearing loss (those with hearing loss who do not wear hearing aids) experience a decreased quality of life.
Hearing loss due to aging can be increased by other factors such as diabetes, poor circulation, noise exposure, and certain medications. 30–35 percent of adults between the ages of 65 and 75 years suffer from hearing loss.
Presbycusis typically is a gradual hearing loss that first affects the high-pitched sounds and it is noticed by the subtle changes in hearing over time. Common symptoms of presbycusis include having difficulty hearing softer voices, children’s voices, and speech in the presence of background noises, as well as the loss of speech clarity.