You expect specific things as your loved ones grow older: Hair changing colors, needing glasses, stories about “When I was your age”. Hearing loss is another change that we associate with aging. This happens for many reasons: Exposure to loud sounds (whether job-related or from going to rock concerts when younger), medications that cause harm to structures within the ear (some forms of chemotherapy, for instance, have this side effect), or simply changes to the inner ear.
But you can’t just disregard the hearing loss of an older friend or relative just because you expected it would happen. This is particularly true because you could simply begin to speak louder to compensate for the progressive hearing loss your loved one is going through. So you should be serious about hearing loss and speak with your loved one and here are four reasons why.
1. Unnecessary Hazard is Caused by Hearing Impairment
In a bigger building, smoke or fire alarms have a visual aspect (often a flashing light) as well as being extremely loud, but the majority of residential alarms don’t. Fire is a drastic illustration, but hearing loss can cause sufferers to lose other everyday cues: Receiving a phone call, a delivery person ringing the doorbell, or (and yes, we’re back in likely really dangerous territory here) car horns. A decreased ability to react to auditory cues can result in minor inconveniences or significant risks.
2. Hearing impairment Has Been connected to an Increased Risk of Cognitive Issues
There is a statistically substantial connection between age related hearing impairment and mental decline according to a large meta-study. What the connection exactly is, is debated, but withdrawal from social activity which results in a reduced level of engagement and less stimulation for the brain is a leading theory. Another leading theory is that the brain needs to work extra hard to try to fill in the missing auditory stimulus that’s lost with hearing loss, leaving less resources for cognitive function.
3. Hearing Loss Can be Expensive
Here’s a solid counterpoint to the idea that getting treatment for hearing loss is too costly: Untreated hearing loss can be costly to your finances for numerous reasons. For instance, research from 2016 that evaluated health care expenses for a sample of 55- to 64-year-old adults revealed that people with untreated hearing loss spent, on average, 33% more on doctor’s bills. Why? One of the study’s writers proposed that individuals with hearing loss may avoid preventative care due to trouble communicating and thus wind up with a large bill because a major health problem wasn’t noticed earlier. Hearing loss is also connected to cognitive decline and numerous health issues, as other individuals have noted. Another point to consider: For people who haven’t retired, hearing loss is associated with decreased work productivity, potentially having an immediate impact on your paycheck.
4. Hearing Loss is Connected to Depression
Difficulty hearing can have emotional and mental health consequences, too. The anxiety and stress of not being able to hear others distinctly will frequently cause withdrawal and solitude. Especially among elderly people, a lack of social activity is linked to negative mental (and physical) health repercussions. The good news: Treating hearing loss can potentially help reduce depression, partly because being able to hear makes social situations less anxious. Research from the National Council on Aging found that people with hearing difficulty who have hearing aids report reduced symptoms related to depression and anxiety and more frequently engage in social activities.
How to do Your Part
Communicate! Keep the conversation about hearing loss going with your family member. This can help with cognitive engagement, and it can also help supply a second pair of ears (literally) assessing hearing. Though the reasons are debated, research has shown that individuals older than 70 under-report hearing loss. The next step is to motivate the person with hearing loss to make an appointment with us. Having your hearing evaluated on a regular basis can help you understand how your hearing is changing and can establish a baseline of your current hearing loss.