Signs of Hearing Loss, pt. 2

Don’t Ignore Signs of Poor Hearing

If your elderly parents, or a senior you know, has age-related hearing loss, they may have a difficult time hearing what others are saying. Or, they may be unable to tolerate loud sounds. Sitting in a crowded restaurant with loud background noise can be intolerable. Or, watching the TV with volume levels turned up can lead to others leaving the room, thereby effectively isolating the senior to watch alone. The loss of this kind of hearing is usually progressive.

There are many hearing aid products now available. Assistive/adaptive devices are those products that help seniors learn to live with hearing loss. Examples include: a telephone amplifying system; a telephone with enlarged keypad; closed captioning for TV; and, alerts such as doorbells, smoke detectors and alarm clocks. These latter products may utilize vibration, or flashing lights, to signal the individual.

Many public places – theatres, museums, houses of worship – now offer assistive devices for those with hearing problems. They may offer “personal listening systems”, which enables a directional microphone connected to earphones to help elderly hear a specific set of sounds. This also may eliminate, or lower, certain other noise ranges. Some are designed for crowded rooms while others are intended for one-to-one conversation.

Signs of hearing loss include:

– Trouble hearing during phone conversations
– Problems in following conversations in person
– A need to turn up the TV volume
– An inability to hear because of background noise
– A feeling that others are mumbling

Don’t wait until your hearing prevents you from enjoying life. Homecare staff can often bring relief to the social isolation of deafness. Oftentimes, with just a bit of home help, there are things you can do to minimize or eliminate the problem.

JD Miller

About JD Miller

John D. Miller is the founder/owner of Home Care Partners, LLC, a Massachusetts business providing private duty, personalized in-home assistance and companion care services to those needing help in daily activities and household functions. Phone: (781) 378-2164 Email: [email protected] Website: https://homecarepartnersma.com
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