Hearing loss may be considered a normal part of aging, but it can be isolating for the person experiencing it, and even more frustrating for the person in a caregiving role.
Right now, 30 percent of all seniors between the ages of 65 and 74, and over 50 percent of seniors age 75 and above experience hearing loss. Hearing loss makes it difficult to understand and follow a doctor’s advice, hear doorbells and alarms, communicate effectively with those around you, and may even lead to increased falls. If left untreated, hearing loss can lead to depression and withdrawal from normal, every day activities.
Hearing loss comes in many forms. It may start out as a mild hearing loss, in which a person misses certain ranges or pitches of sound. And of course it can continue to build until a total loss of hearing is in play. It can be hereditary, or it can result from long term exposure to loud noises, disease, trauma, or even as a side effect to certain medications.
In general, there are two categories of hearing loss: [Read more…]