Presbycusis is a term which refers to hearing loss as we age, and in fact 33% of all adults aged 65 and above have some degree of hearing loss. Seniors losing hearing shouldn’t really come as a surprise to anyone, but the people affected don’t usually recognize that it’s happening because it occurs so gradually. Senior home care professionals are often aware of the loss of hearing in their charges before the individuals themselves. After those gradual changes have a chance to set in and slowly worsen, the senior might become aware that he/she can no longer hear the phone ringing.
Signs of hearing loss
Even though you might not be aware yourself that you’ve undergone some level of hearing loss, it may be evident to those around you. Some of the tell-tale signs of hearing loss include:
- turning the television up too loud
- you avoid social situations
- after attending a social event, you feel exhausted (a symptom of listening fatigue)
- you can’t hear people on the phone
- you depend on someone else to help you hear things
- you have constant ringing in the ears
- you frequently ask speakers to repeat themselves
- you can’t understand speech, particularly in noisy situations
All of these are potentially signs of hearing loss, so if you experience one or more of these, there’s a fair chance you have suffered some level of hearing loss. The effects of this hearing loss will be that you are uncomfortable in social situations, and that you can’t function as well because you just can’t hear what’s being said to you or around you. Seniors who undergo hearing loss often become depressed and withdraw from social situations because they feel uncomfortable, and sometimes they even stop doing things they used to enjoy.
Senior living home care
One of the options for hearing loss as we age is to arrange for in-home care in Colorado Springs, for instance from Gentle Shepherd Home Care. Caregivers can arrange for you to meet with hearing specialists who can diagnose your specific problem and potentially recommend a hearing device that would work for you. Hearing aids and cochlear implants are some of the best hearing loss options, especially for the elderly at risk of hearing impairment.
Auditory training and rehabilitation are both exercises which can be done largely at home, and they help to make sense of noise by converting it into recognizable sounds. Even listening to audio books can help a senior sharpen their hearing, and reduce the effects of listening fatigue. This is another situation where elderly care can prove invaluable, because auditory training can be made more effective with the help of a dedicated caregiver.
