Health ... Conditions
Hearing Loss, Aging and Adaptive Devices
by Art Babbit, Sam's Club Hearing Center
According to the National Institutes of Health about one third of Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 have hearing problems. About one half who are 85 or older have hearing loss. Mild hearing loss can sometimes cause annoyance to family members and friends. More severe loss is a serious concern and should be treated or the problems may get worse.
Signs and symptoms of hearing loss may include:
- Muffled quality of speech and sound
- Difficulty understanding words especially against a background of noise
- The need to turn up the volume of the television or radio
- Difficulty communicating on the phone
- The need to have people repeat themselves
- Ringing in the ears
Left untreated hearing difficulty leads to withdrawal from loved ones. Often embarrassment causes people to avoid certain social setting adding to their loneliness. It is also easy for people to mistake the problem with confusion or lack of caring.
The aging process, exposure to loud noise, ear wax buildup, and heredity can cause hearing loss as well as head injuries, ear infections, and certain medicines. Age related loss is called presbycusis. The decline is usually slow and is caused by damage to the inner ear, the auditory nerve, or the hearing pathways to the brain.
Losses caused by blockages of sound to the inner ear are called conductive and may need a doctor's care. They include excessive ear wax, fluid in the middle ear, and middle ear infections. Ear wax problems are easily spotted using a video otoscope available at some of the better hearing centers such as Sam’s Club Hearing Center in Budd Lake NJ.
Today’s digital hearing aids offer clearer sound quality, less background noise, and are much easier to wear than what was available just a few years ago. The elderly in our lives can stay engaged longer and feel more a part of society with their help. While it is true that no one can make someone hard of hearing 'hear like they are 16 again", basic communication can be dramatically improved, and that can certainly improve one's quality of life.
There are several styles of devices to choose from today.
- Behind the ear models with custom fit ear molds offer the most power and are usually recommended for severe losses. The better "BTE’s" offer easy to use volume controls and directional microphones to help understanding in noisier listening environments.
- Custom molded in the ear aids are available in several sizes (depending on severity of loss) and are less noticeable than traditional BTE’s. Options such as directional microphones and t-coils (that make talking on the phone easier) can be incorporated.
- Receiver in the canal (RIC’s) sometimes called speaker in the ear (SIE’s) were developed to be more comfortable. A small unit sits behind the ear connected to a thin clear tube that goes into the ear canal. Because the ear canal is not occluded, the wearer can adapt much more quickly. These, however are limited to people with mild to moderate hearing deficiencies
All instruments should fit comfortably without any pain or discomfort. Sound and speech should be clear and natural. The consultant should take the time to explain the features as well as the care and cleaning needed to keep them operable.
Hearing aids need not break the bank. When doing your comparison shopping check out what Sam's Clubs hearing centers have to offer. Free hearing evaluations, a 90 day money back guarantee and the most competitive prices around could make your time well spent.