Senior Care - How to Provide Elderly Independence

Watch For These Three Symptoms Of Hearing Loss As You Age

by Stephen Silva

Struggles with hearing become increasingly more common as you age. Although just two percent of adults between the ages of 45 and 54 have severe hearing loss, this percentage jumps to 25 percent among those who are 65 to 74 years of age. If you're concerned about your own ability to hear clearly as you get older or are worried that your spouse might be suffering from some degree of hearing loss, it's important to recognize the symptoms of hearing loss and then react accordingly. Upon catching these three signs in yourself or your spouse, it's beneficial to contact your local hearing center to schedule a consultation for hearing aids with a specialist.

Avoidance Of Noisy Environments

Although people with healthy hearing might not enjoy being in noisy environments, many people who are suffering from some degree of hearing loss find restaurants and other heavily populated areas to be downright miserable. This can occur because for many people with hearing loss, background noises can drown out conversations. This means that even if the person sitting next to you is talking to you, you might have trouble hearing his or her words above the din. If you notice that you or your spouse is making excuses to avoid being in such environments, it could be a sign that you should schedule a visit with your local hearing specialist.

Trouble Recognizing Common Household Sounds

Throughout the day, a wide range of household sounds can alert you to their presence. This list can include the phone, the alarm clock, the timer on the oven and the doorbell. If you notice that you or your spouse is failing to notice these sounds, it's a possible symptom of hearing loss. These sounds typically have a consistent volume, so you aren't likely to encounter an instance in which you miss hearing the phone because it rings quietly. As such, it's advantageous to visit your hearing specialist and see if hearing aids will help the situation.

Challenges Conversing With Grandchildren

If you have grandchildren, you might eagerly anticipate your time together with them. However, if you've begun to notice that these get-togethers don't carry the same appeal, it could be because of hearing challenges. Many children talk in quiet or muffled voices, while others have speech patterns that can be difficult to follow at the best of times. All these issues can combine to make it difficult to hear your grandchild speak, which can be frustrating. Evaluate how you feel about this situation and if you feel concerned about hearing your grandchildren, it might be time for hearing aids.

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