Hearing loss is very common among senior adults. In general, hearing loss is caused by noise, disease, aging, and heredity. People that suffer from hearing loss find it difficult to have simple conversations with family or friends. They can also find it difficult to understand a doctor’s advice, responding to warnings or hearing alarms or doorbells. Recent estimates show that about 1 in 3 people between 65 and 75 have some type of hearing loss. Moreover, over half of the adults over 75 have difficulty hearing.

Hearing loss has important psychological consequences. Older people who don’t hear well often become depressed may withdraw from social situations and may feel embarrassed or frustrated. They are often mistakenly thought to be unresponsive, uncooperative, or confused. Hearing loss is also one of the main concerns for senior citizen health care in Tampa. Similarly, it’s one of the main topics of concern for caregivers for seniors in Tampa. Let’s delve deeper into the topic to learn more:

What is hearing loss?

Hearing loss is a terrible condition, but what is it? Hearing loss is defined as a sudden or gradual decrease in how well a person can hear. It is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults. Hearing loss has important negative impacts on the quality of life for many older adults.

You suffer from hearing loss – what should you do?

Hearing issues can be very serious. As soon as you notice you or a close person has hearing loss symptoms, you should seek professional advice. Start by going to the primary care physician, an audiologist, a hearing aid specialist, or an otolaryngologist. Each of these professions has different training and experience, but can help you overcome your hearing problems.

• the otolaryngologist – (pronounced as oh-toe-lair-in-GAH-luhjist) – is the doctor who is specialized in treating and diagnosing diseases of the throat, nose, and ear; they will determine what is the cause of your hearing loss and will offer various treatment options; if required, the otolaryngologist will send you to another specialist.
• the audiologist – this professional is specialized in identifying and measuring the type and nature of your hearing loss; the audiologist will then recommend some treatment options based on your symptoms and specific needs; in some cases, the audiologist can fit hearing aids;
• the hearing aid specialist – this professional is licensed by a state organization to conduct and evaluate basic hearing tests; they can also offer counsel, conduct fittings, and test the hearing aids.

Talk to your caregiver for seniors in Tampa to put you in touch with these professionals to get help. Every senior citizens health care in Tampa should have contact information for hearing loss professionals.

You are losing your hearing – why is this happening?

Hearing loss can happen for various reasons. In many cases, we lose our hearing acuity as we age. The condition has a medical name – it’s called presbycusis (pronounced as prez-buh-KYOO-sis). As of now, doctors are unsure about the underlying cause of presbycusis. Apparently, the genetic factor is a possibility – the disease seems to run in families. Another common reason for hearing loss is loud noise. Many seniors who worked as airport workers, farmers, musicians, construction workers, yard, and tree care workers suffer from hearing loss. In some cases, hearing loss can also be caused by infections, both bacterial and viral. Other medical conditions may lead to hearing loss, such as head injuries, tumors, heart conditions, and strokes.

What types of treatment are available for patients?

The type of treatment you will get will mainly depend on the type of hearing loss you have. Some treatments work better than others, depending on the causes of your hearing loss. Here are the most common devices and aids that improve or stop hearing loss:

• Hearing aids – These are electronic instruments you must wear behind or in your ear. They essentially pick existing sounds and make them louder. Things will sound very different if you are wearing a hearing aid, so you will have to get used to it. Ideally, you should contact a professional audiologist to help you pick the best hearing aid for you. You will have to choose the right hearing aid that is comfortable for you.
• Cochlear implants – these small electronic devices are surgically implanted in the inner ear. They are designed for people who suffer from severe hearing loss; they can provide a basic hearing for people who are profoundly deaf or hard-of-hearing.
• Assistive listening devices – these are small amplifying devices for the telephone or mobile phone, tablet, or smartphone; they are also included in places of worship, conference centers, theaters, and auditoriums.
• Speechreading and lip reading – this is another option that can help people with hearing problems; they are designed to help people follow conversational speech; the users have to pay particular attention to others when they talk, especially to the speaker’s mouth and lips.

How can your friends and family help you?

Family, friends, and caregivers for seniors in Tampa can help immensely a person who suffers from hearing loss. Here are some things that you can do:

• make sure you inform your friends, family, and the staff at the senior citizen health care in Tampa about your hearing loss; they must know what is happening and how hard this is for you; tell everyone who is close to you, as you can get help from anyone;
• ask everyone people to face you when talking to you, so you can see their faces; you’ll understand them better if you see their faces and are able to read their lips;
• ask people to speak louder to you, but don’t ask them to shout; also, ask them to talk more clearly and slow;
• turn off loud devices around you when you are not listening to them – the radio, music, or TV;
• pay attention to the sounds that bother you and make communication more difficult – don’t sit next to loud equipment or tools; try to avoid background sounds and music when talking to people.