Causes of Elderly Hearing Loss
Hearing loss, regardless of its cause, is essential to treat and manage correctly
Healthy communication with others is paramount to our mental health
Individuals who choose to ignore sensory impairment, be it hearing or vision may soon discover that the growing difficulty in communicating makes it all too easy to simply ‘avoid’ socialising
Types Of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is often thought to impact seniors alone, but that is not entirely correct
There are various types of hearing loss, which can affect each and everyone of us at one point or another regardless of age
Hearing loss can stem from various sources including noise, traumas, medication, hereditary conditions and others
The most common cases in order of the most widespread to the least are:
Age-Related Hearing Loss
Early signs of this type of hearing loss can appear from a person’s 40s, but it is far more evident in the over 60s
It is associated with the overall health decline of the human body and the detrimental effects of the increased number of free radicals that damage cells, including those responsible for hearing
Our inner ear contains tiny hair cells that are tasked with capturing vibrations in the air (what we refer to as ‘sound’)
Once captured, these are than sent to the brain by way of the hearing nerve. As the body matures, their number and quality diminishes resulting in a growing difficulty to hear certain sounds
Noise Induced Hearing Loss
Our contemporary lifestyle means that we are exposed to man made sounds, some at a level that have a devastating effect on hearing ability
Exposure to harmful sounds over short or long durations can cause irreversible damage to the inner ear parts
Thankfully, unlike age related hearing loss, using noise protection and distancing yourself from the source of the sound can help reduce the likelihood of noise related hearing loss
Ear Infection and Other Medical Conditions
A much smaller group and typically resulting in temporary hearing loss, infections and other conditions such as the common flu are treatable using modern medication and undergoing regular hearing checks
Of the three common causes, age related is by far the biggest contributor to hearing loss.
Symptoms of Age Related Hearing Loss
The severity of the symptoms may vary from one person to the next
They can include difficulty in hearing the people around you within noisy environments
The background noise may seem far too loud compared to the actual speech
You may also notice:
● Sounds seem less clear
● Not being able to hear the telephone of door bell ring when others can
● Other people may sound mumbled or slurred
● Inability to hear high-pitched sounds such as “s” and “th”
● Often having to ask people to repeat themselves
● Having to have the television or radio turned up much higher than other family members
● Feeling tired after participating in a conversation held within background noise
Age Related Hearing Loss Management
Age related hearing loss is an irreversible condition
The inner ear hair cells that no longer work optimally cannot regrow or regenerate so any recommended treatment revolves around managing the condition
There are medical devices that can help overcome hearing impairment, but equally those around a hard of hearing person can help by demonstrating their support
Support
Family members, caregivers and partners can help by ensuring that the cause of the hearing loss is fully understood and that a healthcare provider is available to answer any questions that may arise
Also, when engaging in a conversion, attempt to position yourself facing the person so they are able to read your lips. In addition, speaking clearly in a normal manner is essential -shouting can cause distortion of sound
And most importantly, be patient and do not allow yourself to become frustrated; it is just as frustrating for the person trying to hear and demonstrating empathy can be very constructive
- There are plenty of devices designed to help the hard of hearing overcome hearing loss on a daily basis
- The most common are digital hearing aids, small devices that fit inside or outside the ear and help amplify external sound
- Other devices, that fall under the category of assistive hearing devices, include amplified phones, doorbells, loud alarm clocks and induction loops
- Hearing aids and assistive hearing devices do not cure hearing loss, but they make it possible to carry out many daily activities without relying on external help
Any hearing loss management solution should follow a hearing test taken at a reputable hearing centre
Joan McKechnie BSc Hons Audiology & Speech Pathology at Hearing Direct, a UK-based hearing superstore offering ALDs from alarm clocks to hard of hearing phones.
