A ‘Sound’ Solution for Adults…

Hearing loss in adults is common. Nearly in every three persons above 60 years one person has some degree of hearing difficulty.

Reasons for developing hearing loss in advanced age are various. However the most common reason for the hearing loss in this age group is Aging. The second most common reason is unattended or untreated ear infection from childhood or that during early adulthood. Heredity is common too.

Difficulty in hearing transfers into reduced quality of life, stressful communication, isolation in social life, loneliness and slowing down in mental, intellectual abilities.

What’s the solution?

Do not be in the mode of ‘Negation’ for a long time. Be considerate towards your family members, colleagues, co-workers, friends. Get your ‘Hearing’ tested as soon as possible, a test called Audiogram.

If audiogram shows that one has some degree of hearing loss then first thing, first get to understand from an Audiologist how your hearing loss would impact your day to day activities and why?

In other words Read your hearing loss. If your hearing loss warrants hearing aid then an Audiologist, would suggest you a hearing aid only after trying out couple of hearing aids that s/he thinks are suitable for you, depending on severity and type of hearing loss. Not just hearing loss but also your life style too is taken into consideration while, suggesting hearing aids as the lifestyle decides the need or the requirement.

Is the person mostly home bound and watching television is his/her primary need or the person is socially active and needs to participate in conversations face to face or in a group or over the phone, would decide what technology to use in the hearing instrument.

But remember It is not the hearing aid that is going to ‘hear’ for you. You have to make some efforts to ‘listen’ to sound, to speech, to music. The efforts that I am recommending for you is called ‘Auditory Training’ .

Let’s learn more about it in next blog.