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Hearing Loss In The Elderly

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Author: Alice Endy

When my nursing career led me to the field of Geriatrics I automatically knew how to communicate with people with hearing loss.

Last Sunday my mother was visiting. We were playing cards when I began to realize how long we have accommodated her hearing loss.

My mother lost the hearing in her right ear as a teenager. As children we learned to always talk to her left ear, have the radio off when she was driving, wait for the TV commercial and lower the volume before speaking.

We had many a laugh when after calling my mother she would walk to another room or the other end of the house thinking the voice came from that direction. Mom laughed with us MOST of the time.

When my nursing career led me to the field of Geriatrics I automatically knew how to communicate with people with hearing loss.

Twenty eight million people suffer from hearing loss.

Ages 65-74-- 23% have hearing loss. Ages 75 84-- -33% have hearing loss. ages 85+ ---- 48% have hearing loss.

Most older people with hearing loss never see an audiologist nor do they get fitted for hearing aids. It amazes me that so few are willing to get help. Hearing loss has a very gradual onset, frequently not noticed by the person himself. Usually it is the spouse that raises the possibility of hearing loss.

Most doctors do not test for hearing loss as part of a routine physical and for some unknown reason, most older people will not complain of their hearing loss. Denial is very strong when the topic is hearing loss.

As people age the hearing sense does decline in many folks.

This presents many problems:

Unable to hear emergency sirens, fire alarms, honking horns

Often develop depression over time due to an inability to hear conversations.

Often withdraw from social gatherings and isolate themselves.

Often develop paranoia, thinking people are talking about them since they are only able to pick up occasional words.

Often become irritable as they isolate.

These symptoms are very common among the frail elderly, especially when in group activities such as sitting at a table playing cards, or eating.

Communicating With Elders with Hearing Loss

Face the person- within three feet.

Sit at eye level.

Get eye contact.