Hearing
and Older People
By: National
Institute on Aging
Some people may not
admit that they are having trouble hearing. But, if ignored or untreated,
these problems can get worse. Older people who can’t hear well may
become depressed or withdraw from others to avoid the frustration or
embarrassment of not understanding what is being said. They may become
suspicious of relatives or friends who they believe "mumble" or
"don't speak up” on purpose. It’s easy to mistakenly call older
people confused, unresponsive, or uncooperative just because they don’t
hear well.
If you have a hearing problem, you can get help. See your doctor. Special
training, hearing aids, certain medicines, and surgery are some of the
choices that could help people with hearing problems.
Common Signs of
Hearing Problems
See your doctor if:
words are hard to
understand,
another person’s
speech sounds slurred or mumbled, especially if it gets worse when there
is background noise,
certain sounds are
overly annoying or loud,
a hissing or ringing in
the background is heard,
TV shows, concerts, or
parties are less enjoyable because you can’t hear much.
Diagnosis of Hearing
Problems
Hearing loss can be
caused by exposure to very loud noises over a long period of time, viral
or bacterial infections, heart conditions or stroke, head injuries,
tumors, certain medicines, heredity, or changes in the ear that happen
with aging.
If you have trouble with your hearing, see your family doctor. In some
cases, the diagnosis and treatment can take place in his or her office. Or
you may be referred to an otolaryngologist. This doctor
has special training in the ear, nose, and throat and other areas related
to the head and neck. He or she will take a medical history, ask if other
family members have hearing problems, do a thorough exam, and order any
needed tests.
An audiologist is a health professional who can identify
and measure hearing loss. He or she may work with the otolaryngologist.
The audiologist will use a device called an audiometer to test your
ability to hear sounds at different pitches and loudness. The tests are
painless. Audiologists do not prescribe drugs or perform surgery.
Types
of Hearing Loss
Presbycusis is
the most common hearing problem in older people. In fact, people over age
50 are likely to lose some hearing each year. Presbycusis is an ongoing
loss of hearing linked to changes in the inner ear. People with this kind
of hearing loss may have a hard time hearing what others are saying or may
be unable to stand loud sounds. The decline is slow. Just as hair turns
gray at different rates, presbycusis develops at different rates.
Tinnitus is also common in older people. Tinnitus is a
symptom associated with a variety of hearing diseases and disorders.
People with tinnitus have a ringing, roaring, or hear other sounds inside
the ears. It may be caused by ear wax, an ear infection, the use of too
much aspirin or certain antibiotics, or a nerve disorder. Often, the
reason for the ringing cannot be found. Tinnitus can come and go; or it
can stop altogether.
Conductive hearing loss happens in some older people when
the sounds that are carried from the ear drums (tympanic membrane) to the
inner ear are blocked. Ear wax in the ear canal, fluid in the middle ear,
abnormal bone growth, or a middle ear infection can cause this loss. Sensorineural
hearing loss happens when there is damage to parts of the inner
ear or auditory nerve. The degree of hearing loss can vary from person to
person. Sensorineural hearing loss may be caused by birth defects, head
injury, tumors, illness, certain prescription drugs, poor blood
circulation, high blood pressure, or stroke.
If Someone You Know
Has a Hearing Problem
Face the person and talk
clearly.
Stand where there is
good lighting and low background noise.
Speak clearly and at a
reasonable speed; do not hide your mouth, eat, or chew gum.
Use facial expressions
or gestures to give useful clues.
Reword your statement if
needed.
Be patient, stay
positive and relaxed.
Ask how you may help the
listener.
Set up meetings so that
all speakers can be seen or can use a microphone.
Include the hearing
impaired person in all discussions about him or her to prevent feelings of
isolation.
Tips to Recognize
Hearing Loss
See your doctor if you
have:
Dfficulty hearing over
the telephone;
Trouble following a
conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time;
Others complaining that
you make the TV too loud;
To strain to understand
conversations;
Problems hearing because
of background noise;
The sense that others
seem to mumble; or
Difficulty understanding
women and children talking.
If You Have Trouble
Hearing
Tell others that you
have trouble hearing.
Ask others to face you,
speak more slowly and clearly, and not to shout.
Pay attention to what is
being said and to facial expressions or gestures.
Let the person talking
know if you do not understand what is being said; ask for the statement to
be repeated or reworded.
Hearing Aids
If you are having
trouble hearing, the doctor may suggest using a hearing aid. This is a
small device that you put in your ear to make sounds louder. Before buying
a hearing aid, you must get a written medical evaluation or sign a waiver
saying that you do not want a medical evaluation.
There are many kinds of hearing aids. An audiologist will consider your
hearing level, ability to understand speech, comfort in using the
controls, and concern for how it looks. He or she will then suggest a
specific design, model, and brand of hearing aid that best suits your
needs.
When you buy a hearing aid, remember you are buying a product and a
service. You will need fitting adjustments, directions to use the aid, and
repairs during the warranty period.
Be sure to buy a hearing
aid that has only the features you need. The most costly product may not
be the best model for you, while the one selling for less may be just
right. Be aware that the controls for many hearing aids are tiny and can
be hard to adjust. This often gets easier with practice. Find a hearing
aid dealer (called a dispenser) who has the patience and skill to help you
during the month or so it takes to get used to the new hearing aid.
For More Information
More information about
hearing loss is available from the following groups.
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. (AAO
HNS)
One Prince Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-836-4444
703-519-1585 (TTY)
AAO-HNS is an organization of medical doctors who specialize in care of
the ear, nose, throat, head, and neck. Contact AAO-HNS for physician
referrals. Send a stamped, self addressed business envelope to receive
single copies of AAO-HNS publications.
American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA)
10801 Rockville Pike
Dept. AP
Rockville, MD 20852
ASHA Helpline: 1-800-638-8255 (Voice/TTY)
ASHA is a nonprofit organization of professionals concerned with
communication sciences and disorders. ASHA offers information about
hearing aids or hearing loss and communication problems in older people.
They can provide a list of certified audiologists and speech language
pathologists.
American Tinnitus Association (ATA)
P.O. Box 5
Portland, OR 97207
1-800-634-8978
ATA provides information about tinnitus and makes professional referrals.
ATA supports a nationwide network of self-help groups for people with
tinnitus and their families. Public information includes information about
prevention and treatment.
Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, Inc. (SHHH)
7910 Woodmont Avenue
Suite 1200
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-657-2248
301-657-2249 (TTY)
SHHH is an international volunteer organization composed of people who are
hard of hearing, their relatives, and friends. SHHH provides self help
programs and referrals to local chapters. Contact them for a list of
available publications.
National
Information Center on Deafness (NICD)
Gallaudet University
800 Florida Avenue, NE.
Washington, DC 20002
202-651-5051
202-651-5052 (TTY)
NICD provides fact sheets, resource listings, and reading lists on all
aspects of deafness and hearing loss including educational programs,
vocational training, sign language programs, legal issues, technology, and
barrier free design.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
National Institutes of Health
31 CENTER DR MSC 2320
BETHESDA, MD 20892-2320
NIDCD Information Clearinghouse: 1-800-241-1044
1-800-241-1055 (TTY)
NIDCD conducts and supports biomedical and behavioral research and
training and the dissemination of information on disorders of hearing,
balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language. The NIDCD
Clearinghouse offers information to health professionals, patients,
industry representatives, and the public.
For more information about health and aging contact:
The National Institute on Aging Information Center
P.O. Box 8057
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057
1-800-222-2225
1-800-222-4225 (TTY)
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