How to navigate age-related hearing loss    – Reading Eagle

The first time Diane McCormick, 80, realized her hearing was failing was when her kids were honest with her about five years ago.

“They were the first to speak up when I spoke to them on the phone and asked them to repeat what they said,” McCormick said. “They may have noticed before, but then they started telling me.”

McCormick, who lives in Chester Springs, Chester County, is a retired English teacher and currently a circulation clerk at the Chester Springs Library. When it comes to managing her health, including her hearing, she is examined twice a year by an audiologist in her ear, nose and throat practice.

“There has been some reduction in both ears, but hearing aids have not yet been recommended,” she said.

The onset of age-related hearing loss

dr Mindy Brudereck, owner/audiologist at Berks Hearing Professionals, with offices in Wyomissing and Exeter Township, said age-related hearing loss typically begins to develop when patients are in their 50s or 60s.

“Many people do not have their hearing tested as adults until they are 60 years old, but hearing loss can certainly start at a younger age,” said Brudereck. “Signs of hearing loss are frequent repetition of words/phrases, ringing in the ears, turning up the volume on the TV. Subtle signs of hearing loss can include withdrawing from social gatherings, speaking loudly, or focusing intensely on a person’s face and mouth.”

The biggest changes McCormick notices in her hearing are in everyday conversations, especially when they happen over the phone.

“I find I have to ask people to repeat, and phones are harder than talking in person,” she said. “Phones aren’t that clear.”

McCormick is open to the possibility that hearing aids could be in her future.

“I’d be open to trying it, but I’ve heard from people that wearing it isn’t always successful,” she said. “It doesn’t offer them as much help as they should.”

Latest advances in hearing aids

Brudereck spoke about the latest advances in hearing aids, which have become more tech-savvy.

“Almost all hearing aids connect to smartphones, either via Bluetooth or via an app,” she said. “These features can make listening on the phone easier and also make it easier for the patient to control the hearing aid because they can see the changes they are making.”

She said some hearing aids can actually detect when a patient falls and alert a loved one with a notification that the patient has fallen, in addition to other newer features that make hearing aids easier to use.

“Rechargeability has also evolved a lot in recent years, making hearing aids easier to use and less resistant to moisture.”

Resistance to hearing aid use

McCormick’s mother, who lived to 92, was reluctant to get a hearing aid despite her problems, so she never got one. As a result, McCormick has memories of always having to raise her voice in her mother’s later years. For this reason, she is not reluctant to get a hearing aid if necessary.

“I would make an effort so my kids and grandkids wouldn’t have to speak so loud for me to hear them,” McCormick said. “They’re probably fed up with having to repeat themselves all the time.”

If you have a family member who has hearing problems but refuses to attend to them, Brudereck offers some tips on how you can make your loved one’s medical treatment more successful.

“Offer to go to the appointment with them and even offer to have your hearing tested at the same time if it’s been more than three years since your last test,” Brudereck said. “It always helps to have someone at the appointment who is familiar with the patient and how they communicate. If the person doesn’t feel there is a problem, it can be difficult for them to be open about the problems they are having with their hearing.”

driver safety

When it comes to driving, McCormick, a cautious driver, always makes sure to keep all her senses on the road and make adjustments where necessary.

“I turn off the radio when I’m in a bad traffic situation to make sure I can concentrate,” she said.

Brudereck discussed some of the challenges that can accompany untreated age-related hearing loss, which can affect driver safety and normal functioning in the home.

“There could be an impact on the safety of the driver if the person can no longer hear sounds in the car, such as the turn signal,” said Brudereck. “In addition, the patient may have difficulty hearing sirens from a distance, which could affect driver safety. Home security can also be an issue if they cannot hear the doorbell or alarm signals in the home. Even something like running water could be difficult to hear.”

McCormick, who lives with her husband Jim, 87, notes they communicate best when they’re in the same room.

“We’ve been married for 58 years and got to know each other better from an early age,” she said. “We are doing well now, but we are regularly evaluated by experts.”

Brudereck offers a recommendation for everyone over 40 years of age.

“Your last ‘required’ hearing test is typically in 11th grade in high school, and the next one is as part of your Welcome to Medicare test,” she said. “I recommend that an asymptomatic patient have their hearing tested around the age of 40 and every five years thereafter.”

Age-related hearing loss

Age-related hearing loss affects about a third of Americans ages 65 to 74 and nearly half of those over 75, according to the National Institutes of Health. It is important to protect what you have and keep it for as long as possible. Hearing loss is often so gradual that you don’t notice it.

Do you notice a change in your hearing? Don’t put off going to the doctor.

If you don’t seek treatment for your healing loss — and many older adults underestimate just how bad their hearing really is, research shows — you’re at greater risk of falls, hospital visits, anxiety and depression, as well as higher levels of inactivity and higher healthcare costs.

Photo credit: www.aarp.org

Free hearing test

You do not have to leave your home for this hearing test. AARP has partnered with the National Hearing Test to offer free screening to its members annually. Non-members can take the test for a small fee. The test mimics one of the most challenging real-world situations: trying to hear in the midst of noise, notes James Miller, senior scientist at CDT and research director emeritus at the Central Institute for the Deaf in St. Louis. Think family dinners, cocktail parties and crowded restaurants. It effectively detects the changes in the inner ear caused by aging or exposure to noise – the two most common causes of hearing loss.

The results are available immediately. Anything outside the normal range will result in a recommendation to receive a more complete evaluation from a hearing care professional.

Call: National Hearing Test at 800-299-9195

Credit and for more information: www.aarp.org