Healthy Edge
Now Hear This!
Sharing a bit of personal information here: my husband and I are in love, but we get frustrated when we don't hear each other. On those occasions, every sentence needs a repeat, and precious moments of spontaneity are lost.
Sound familiar? As early as age 18, your ability to hear begins to decline. Presbycusis (prez-bi-'kyü-sis)-- age-related hearing loss caused by the degeneration of tiny hairs inside your inner ear, the cochlea -- is as normal as going gray.It's so gradual that most of us don't notice it until after age 50.
Without a thought, many Seniors make adjustments to accommodate hearing loss. They might turn the TV up louder than before, stand closer to people they are communicating with or say "excuse me; could you repeat that?" several times daily. Yet, these compensatory actions become less effective as hearing worsens.
Although presbycusis doesn't typically lead to deafness, even minor hearing loss reduces enjoyment of time spent with loved ones. It can also be frustrating and embarrassing. But, most importantly, hearing loss can be dangerous.
Imagine not being able to respond to emergencies whether it's a car horn, an alarm or a person's warning call. Imagine not hearing your doctor's advice --and being too embarrassed (or proud) to ask again. And, isolation and depression are often sequelae of hearing loss. As you likely know, physical health is the next domino to fall when these mental states set in.
Fortunately, there are ways to lessen the effects of hearing loss on your quality of life.
The first step is having your primary physician refer you to an otolaryngologist (an ear, nose and throat doctor) and an audiologist (a non-physician healthcare professional) that will screen your hearing.
Why go if it's a normal part of aging, you ask? Your problem may have more to do with wax build-up than age. More importantly, other undetected hearing problems can magnify any age-related hearing loss. The sooner it's detected the better. Plus, technology has come a long way.
HIGH-TECH HEARING
Digital hearing aids: These are not your mother's hearing aids. For most Seniors, hearing loss varies across pitches or frequencies (think about how you can't hear a dog whistle but your dog can). Contrary to analog hearing aids that amplify ALL sounds, digital hearing aids allow you to clearly understand speech by controlling the specific sound signals within the device.
A hearing professional tailors the device to your hearing needs using software. According to the Mayo clinic, digital hearing aids can be effective for those with presbycusis.
Selecting the best hearing aid for you is based on four major factors:
1. The hearing test findings.
2. The hearing professional's level of expertise. Find someone who's highly recommended and specializes in digital hearing aids.
3. The professional's accurate understanding of your lifestyle and hearing needs.
4. The hearing aid style you prefer. Do you want an in-the-canal device that's barely (if at all) perceptible, or would you be more comfortable with a very small open-fit model nestled behind your ears?
The last two factors affect the cost of the hearing aid. Some general price estimates for two digital hearing aids (one for each ear), fitting and hearing professional follow-up services are:
* Premium Technology - $5,000 and up with a 3-year manufacturer's warranty
* Mid-Level/Advanced - $3,800 to $5,000 with a 2-year manufacturer's warranty
* Basic/Economy - $3,000 to $3,600 with a 1- or 2-year manufacturer's warranty.
To prepare yourself for your doctor's visit and learn more about digital hearing aids, go to the Mayo Clinic Web site on hearing loss at mayoclinic.com/health/hearing-aids/HQ00812.
Cochlear implants: New York University Langone Medical Center has shown that cochlear implants can significantly improve quality of life and the surgical procedure's risk is minimal for Seniors up to age 91 with severe to profound hearing loss. According to the National Institute on Aging, that's about one in 10 of you. In the February 2009 "Laryngoscope" science journal, the New York University study indicates that general anesthesia is well tolerated by Senior patients undergoing cochlear implantation, and pre-existing medical conditions are a far better predictor of complications than age. One catch: "The shorter the period of deafness, the better the outcome for individuals with cochlear implants," said Dr. William Shapiro, director of audiology at NYU.
OTHER TIPS
You can use these tips from the National Institute on Aging if you are speaking with someone who has hearing loss. If you have hearing loss yourself, ask your loved ones to try them on you.
* With presbycusis, higher frequency sounds are the first to go. If you are communicating with someone who has a hard time hearing you, try lowering the pitch of your voice.
* The older we get the slower our communication processing. Try speaking more slowly, and most importantly, more deliberately. No mumbling! And, no shouting... it doesn't help, and it's irritating.
* Those who have some hearing loss depend more heavily on facial and body language. So, prioritize using face-to-face communications. Touching someone who likes to be touched is a great tool to get your point across -- especially if they still can't hear you saying "I love you" in your most baritone voice!
* If you need to repeat yourself, use different words.
For more information about hearing loss and addressing it, check out the Hear-it Web site
Kendra Siler-Marsiglio, Ph.D. is the Director of the Rural Health Partnership at WellFlorida Council.
