About
one-third of Americans between age 65 and 74 and one-half of those
age 85 and older have hearing problems. They may mistake words
in a conversation, miss musical notes at a concert, or leave a
ringing door bell unanswered. Hearing problems can be small (missing
certain sounds) or large (involving total deafness).
Some
people may not admit 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
(oto-larin-GOL-o-jist). 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 (aw-dee-OL-o-jist) 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 (prez-bee-KU-sis)
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
(ti-NI-tus) 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 (sen-so-ree-NU-ral) 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
American
Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. (AAO HNS)
One Prince Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-836-4444
703-519-1585 (TTY)
American
Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA)
10801 Rockville Pike
Dept. AP
Rockville, MD 20852
ASHA Helpline: 1-800-638-8255 (Voice/TTY)
American
Tinnitus Association (ATA)
P.O. Box 5
Portland, OR 97207
1-800-634-8978
Self
Help for Hard of Hearing People, Inc. (SHHH)
7910 Woodmont Avenue
Suite 1200
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-657-2248
301-657-2249 (TTY)
National
Information Center on Deafness (NICD)
Gallaudet University
800 Florida Avenue, NE.
Washington, DC 20002
202-651-5051
202-651-5052 (TTY)
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)
Reference:
from the National Institute on Aging
