Hearing Loss
Strategies for coping with hearing loss
Hearing loss is the third most common chronic condition experienced by older Americans today, affecting about one-third of people over 65 and half in their 80s. Untreated hearing loss is a serious problem for those 50 and older, because it contributes to their sense of anxiety, depression and social isolation. Those with hearing loss may no longer want to attend social get-togethers they once enjoyed because they tire of trying to read lips, or they may be afraid to take their dogs out for walks because they can’t hear an approaching car.
Hearing loss carries something of a stigma, but this may be less true than in the past among the 50-plus crowd, many of whom would rather acknowledge and treat the problem than have it interfere with their daily lives. If you think that you might be starting to lose some of your hearing, ask yourself a few questions:
- Are you sometimes unsure about what others near you have just said?
- Do you have trouble hearing over the telephone?
- Do you turn up the TV volumes to a level at which others complain?
- Are conversations harder to follow when there is background noise?
Hearing Loss Progression
Hearing loss can sneak up on you as you age. At first, you may start missing high-pitched sounds. Words seem too softly spoken to you. “S” and “th” sounds become unclear. The same is true for a child’s or a woman’s voice. As your hearing loss worsens, you adapt and turn up your TV. You ask people to please repeat what they just said. Slowly but surely, frustration grows in you. You avoid the situations that put you on the spot, such as group conversations or interactions with colleagues and relatives. The frustration turns to embarrassment, or worse, bitterness and loneliness. In the end, you may withdraw into a shell of silence. It doesn’t have to be this way. The good news is that treatment is available and is becoming increasingly effective. A common solution to hearing loss is the use of hearing aids.
