Aging and Life Enhancement
By Kathryn Kilpatrick, M.A.
Huh?? What did you say?
Ever been in a situation where you could not hear or follow a conversation very well? Did you just nod your head, pretend to understand but were hesitant to ask for someone to speak louder or slow down?
Hearing loss increases with aging. The fact that it can put a strain on your brain and possibly impact your cognitive functioning supports the benefit of being proactive sooner rather than later. Your brain has to work harder, and with increased loss, research reports an increase in cognitive decline, possibly even a faster rate of brain atrophy.
In a study that tracked 639 adults for nearly 12 years, Johns Hopkins expert Frank Lin, M.D., Ph.D. found that mild hearing loss doubled dementia risk. Moderate loss tripled risk, and people with a severe hearing impairment were five times more likely to develop dementia.
Hearing loss is a critical public health issue affecting two-thirds of Americans over 70, according to researchers. The growing understanding that hearing loss might be linked to the risk of dementia (which impacts millions) and other adverse outcomes, adds urgency to treating hearing loss.
Questions to consider:
- How difficult is it to follow conversations when two or more people are talking or someone is speaking from another room?
- Is the TV volume so loud that others complain?
- Do background noises like conversations, appliances, or loud outside devices interfere with a conversation?
- Are you able to hear sirens in the distance when driving so you can be more proactive?
- Does it sometimes feel like certain words just “drop” in a hole and get missed? Do you lose part of a conversation and later think someone never told you a specific detail?
“Blindness separates people from things; deafness separates people from people.” ~Helen Keller
It is in your best interests, if you notice some issues or others have voiced concerns, to schedule a hearing evaluation with an audiologist to get the bigger picture and learn your options. If a hearing aid purchase is not possible, other recommendations may be offered pertinent to your various circumstances.
If you wear a hearing aid, it is important to schedule periodic reevaluations because there may be a change in your hearing over time. If you have issues with wax buildup in your ears, make sure you see your physician to determine how to best remove it.
During my decades as a speech-language pathologist in home health care, hearing strategies were an important component of any treatment plan. Sometimes it was the care partner with the hearing issue and if the patient has a softer voice, many challenges usually develop, which is frustrating for all involved.
What about getting information from a doctor, health care professional or other important information? Safety, in some cases, may be compromised with missed details when a person has a hearing loss. Perhaps specifics need to be written down so mistakes are not made with medications or other recommendations. One of my patients did not have a family member in town, so friends and people from her church would take her—but not be with her—when she spoke to the doctor. Seeing her after an appointment, it became obvious to me that she was not clear on the changes, including dosage, etc. In cases like this, I would call the responsible family member and suggest that they have the office call her/him with details after the appointment. In some situations, the family might even give permission for the doctor to give that friend any details. When making this choice, however, it is best that the friend does not experience some mild memory or hearing problems, either. In certain situations, some supervision may be necessary until a routine is established.
In addition to having trouble with the details in lengthy conversations with other professionals or even someone doing repairs around their home, the hearing-impaired person may not be hearing doorbells or timers/alarms, and miss verbalized warnings, perhaps when out walking.
Withdrawal from activity engagement is not unusual and may be complicated when a person is also experiencing even a mild memory loss. Research for cognitive health supports staying engaged and activity modification can make the difference when the family/support system are interested in maximizing the quality of life of the older adult. Frequently, my therapy sessions included specific tips and activity recommendations for family, friends and caregivers.
Since it is not unusual for those with concerns about their hearing to find it hard to have a conversation with friends and family, here are some basic strategies to consider and share with others:
- First, reduce background noises such as television, music, or children playing. Consider moving to a quieter setting where there are not as many distractions.
- Face the person with hearing loss. Get their attention before asking a question or starting a conversation. Do not turn away while still talking!
- Ask the hard-of-hearing person for feedback and give them permission to interrupt you if a reminder is needed.
- When there are a lot of details and the person also has some memory challenges, consider dividing details into smaller segments and/or provide a printed overview. Double check that it is easy for them to read.
Most importantly, show your concern and support by having the conversation that you are sensitive to their hearing issues. Perhaps share that you know that sometimes you do not speak loud enough or too fast. Encourage them to remind you to slow down, face them or ask for a repeat. Explain that you want to reduce any frustrations and explore what is most effective. It is helpful to share how much you want to help reduce everyone’s frustrations and make sure that any important details are not misunderstood or missed.
“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” ~Mark Twain
