By: Stephanie Galloway, AuD, CCC-A
Hearing loss is often times a problem that goes undiagnosed and untreated for many years. It is a problem that cannot be seen, but it is a problem that certainly does not go unnoticed. There is also the misconception that hearing loss is an affliction that is only suffered by the elderly. In actuality, two thirds of the people with hearing loss are below the age of 65, making it a problem that knows no age limit.
Many times, individuals with hearing loss try to hide their problems, and they may do a good job of it up to a point. However, it is only a matter of time before friends and family start to notice the difficulties the hearing loss is causing. For example, no one can agree on the volume of the television, family and friends are accused of mumbling all the time, or the hearing impaired person finds themselves smiling and nodding throughout conversations with no real grasp of what is being said.
Hearing loss can impact a person’s physical, emotional, and social well-being. Trying to listen, follow, and understand conversations can be exhausting for someone with a hearing loss. A person with a hearing impairment may feel like they are a beat behind in conversations because they are constantly trying to fill in the blanks where they have missed out on words or consonants. People with a hearing impairment may also withdraw from social settings they once enjoyed because they can’t hear what is going on or what is being said.
Hearing loss can also cause tension between the hearing impaired and their communication partner(s). Constantly asking for repetition or constantly having to repeat what is said can be frustrating for all parties. The person who is asked to repeat may then raise their voice, which in turn sounds like yelling. It shows that the hearing problem can impact everyone that person comes into contact with in his or her daily interactions.
Thanks to advancements in technology, hearing aids have improved vastly in the last few years. There are better products out there that help with noise management, feedback management and wind noise on the hearing aid microphones. The comfort and size of the instruments has improved immensely as well. There are small, nearly invisible models that tuck away behind the ear, as well as instruments that seat deep in the ear canal and out of sight as well.
The holidays are coming up, and that could mean seeing our loved ones we haven’t seen in a while. It is always good to get together with friends and loved ones, but it can be difficult when someone’s hearing loss interferes. Often times, someone who has been away for a while may be the first person to notice the hearing loss. Hearing loss is one of those things that the individual and the family will adapt to as time goes by. Since it is such a gradual process, that adaptation makes it difficult to pinpoint a problem until it gets so bad that it can no longer be ignored.
Hearing loss is gradual, but if someone suffering from hearing loss went to bed the previous night with normal hearing and woke up the next morning with the hearing loss they have acquired, they would be the first person in the emergency room trying to figure out what happened to their hearing.
If you have the opportunity to visit with loved ones this holiday season, here are some things to look for:
- Does the person lean in much closer when in conversation?
- Do they miss the “punchline” or get it a few beats after everyone else?
- Do they respond at all to questions?
- Do they smile and nod the majority of the interaction?
- Are they asking for repetition much more than usual?
- When watching TV, do they miss out on the show, depend more on closed captioning, or do they turn the volume up to a louder level to the point where other people’s comfort is compromised?
If any of these scenarios occurs, it may be that you just helped someone get on the path to the identification of a hearing loss and improving their lives through better hearing.
If you think you may have a problem, or if family and friends have told you they believe you have a problem, the time to act is now. A Doctor of Audiology can determine the type and severity of the hearing loss and make appropriate recommendations for treatment and follow-up. Choosing the right professional is essential to help guide you through the process and answer questions along the way. There is a lot of information to sift through, so it is important to find a professional you trust to help you make the most informed decision regarding your hearing health care options.
Patients that seek treatment are amazed at how much easier it has become to follow conversations, even in noise. They are happy to be able to more easily hear their children’s or grandchildren’s voices, and they are happy to hear birds singing again. Hearing loss can greatly impact a person’s quality of life, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Stephanie is a Doctor of Audiology with Assured Audiology & Hearing Solutions in Fuquay-Varina
