Hearing It Clearly: Understanding and Dealing with Hearing Loss in the Senior Community

April 21, 2013 - PRLog -- Las Vegas, Nevada - in dealing with hearing loss, the Hearing Health Foundation revealed that, studies links aging with hearing loss.30% of adults aging 65 to 74 and 47% of adults aging from 75 and older are suffering from hearing impairments. The study also reveals that high level of continine, a chemical indicator of tobacco exposure from direct smoking and second -hand -smoke or stream has been directly linked to higher risks on some type of hearing loss.

What is Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss is the inability of an individual to identify and interpret sounds which can vary from partial loss of hearing to total hearing impairment. Hearing impairment is the third most commonly reported chronic problem affecting the elder population. Several factors are also considered in determining hearing loss with age as inclination. This may include the level of hearing impairment, the pattern of inability to hear, if both ears are affected, the area of auditory system that is affected, the ability to recognize sounds, exposure to loud sounds in the environment and chemical toxins, but possible hearing loss solutions were developed in the market today. The most common factor that results to hearing loss is age. Senior citizens are evidently prone to this impairment. An estimated 17% or 36 million of American adults report some degree of hearing loss.

Types of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss comes in many forms ranging from a mild loss to a total loss of hearing. This can be hereditary, or a result from disease, trauma and certain medications or a long term exposure to loud sounds. In terms of hearing loss with age as determinant, hearing loss is generally categorized in to two:

·         Sensorineural hearing loss- permanent hearing loss due to internal damage of the auditory system.

·         Conductive hearing loss- can be treated with medical treatment or surgery, caused by a blocked ear canals or punctured ear drums.

There are some other forms of hearing loss for the aged community which are determined by its symptoms and level of audible assessment. This also serves as basis of finding the appropriate hearing loss solutions.

Impacts of Hearing Loss to the Senior Population

Older people suffering from hearing loss are susceptible to depression, psychological solitary confinement, shame, feeling of being stupid, awkward, indifferent, and inadequacy. All this presents a huge impact in the day to day live of a senior suffering from hearing loss. Depression and adjustment disorder can occur as natural response to hearing problem and its subsequent impact in the quality of life. The negative notion that senior citizen denies hearing loss on its early stage results to an average five to seven years delay in seeking help after the diagnosis.

Dealing with Hearing Loss

Due to its impact in the social life of an elder individual, it is important that elders are educated with hearing loss about fight, flight, and freeze responses to stress. This will help to normalize their behavior. One must discuss the difference between guilt and shame and continue to work on limiting or eliminating shame-based reaction to hearing impairment. A rational emotive behavior therapy can also be applied for this purpose. In dealing with hearing loss, individual can also work with self-efficacy and self-respect. Create a strength assessment method to help them recognize their strength as counter to the feeling of self-worthlessness. Behavioral techniques like relaxation training, visualization, and even hypnosis can assist them in developing their coping skills.

Assistive Device for Hearing Loss

Traditionally, personal hearing aids are often the only remedial device considered by seniors, although many seniors choose not to wear these hearing loss solutions.  Today, seniors with hearing problems can get help to improve communication and independent functioning through assistive devices known as hearing assistive technology. A new generation of assistive device goes beyond the hearing aids in terms of clarity and function. These devices can be used alone or to simply supplement hearing aid use in certain place and occasions. At the most basic, assistive device can be used to clarify and amplify speech necessary for everyday interaction and to amplify sounds from radio, or television, telephone calls, smoke alarms, doorbells and alarm clocks which all play a vital role in enhancing and ensuring quality life for hearing loss with age proportionate conditions. Listed below are some of the most talked to assistive device and gadgets for the hearing impaired senior individual:

·         PocketTalker Pro/Ultra- compact and discreet, but powerful enough to amplify one –on- one conversations, watching TV, or listening to the radio.

·         Direct Ear- is an infrared television assistive listening system that provides great clarity than with hearing aids alone.

·         CapTel (http://www.ultratec.com/)- (captioned telephone) enables user to hear and read telephone conversations. The device has amplified handset with real-time written (dialogue) captions that appears in a display window on the phone.

·         Just5 Mobile- a basic senior friendly phone, hearing aid compatible with amplified sound, big buttons and keypad talker. This phone also comes equipped with a dedicated SOS/emergency button good for emergency purpose.

Some more basic hearing loss assistive device includes an amplified alarm clock, which also comes with a shaker pad that can be slipped under the mattress which vibrates on any scheduled/set time, e-books and other digital device.  The technology market is on its continuous quest on producing more devices to help practitioner dealing with hearing loss patients.

For individuals who are helping senior members in the family that are dealing with hearing loss or a possible hearing loss patient, performing a research about their emotional and physical languages will be very helpful in understanding them. The market is also offering more technology device that will both benefit the patient and the caregiver. Through the use of these means, dealing with hearing loss does not become an impossible task to fulfill.