The Sound of Silence. Diocese of Camden. Division of Health Services. with the compliments of. Tips on Hearing Improvement

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Joy Harrison
5 years ago
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1 The Sound of Silence Tips on Hearing Improvement with the compliments of Division of Health Services Diocese of Camden

2 Hearing impairment is one of the most common chronic health problems of the elderly - ranging from simply missing a few words to total deafness. A person with a hearing impairment may leave a ringing telephone unanswered, may mistake certain words in a conversation, or may have problems hearing because of background noise. There are warning signs of hearing loss, and if they are ignored, it can get worse. When older people are having trouble hearing, they often don't admit it. Older people who cannot hear well may become depressed or may withdraw from others to avoid the frustration or embarrassment of not understanding what is being said.

3 Mrs. Green is all alone at home reading a book when the telephone rings. It is her granddaughter calling to give her good news! Mrs. Green does not answer the phone. She does not hear it ringing. Mr. Jones is at a family outing and says everyone is mumbling and not speaking clearly. He becomes slightly irritated because he is constantly asking everyone to repeat themselves. Mr. Jones becomes withdrawn from all conversations. Mrs. Smith is driving in her car, on her way home from Bingo, when a horn blows to alert her to the fact that she is about to collide with another vehicle. Mrs. Smith doesn't even slow down she cannot hear the alarming horn blow.

Why do people lose their hearing? Hearing loss can be caused by exposure to very loud noises over long periods of time, or simply by changes in the ear as a result of aging.

There are several types of hearing loss: Nerve Nerve or sensorineural hearing loss involves damage to the inner ear.

Nerve hearing loss usually cannot be repaired surgically; it's usually corrected with a hearing aid.

4 Why do people lose their hearing? Hearing loss can be caused by exposure to very loud noises over long periods of time, or simply by changes in the ear as a result of aging. It can also be caused by head injuries, viral or bacterial infections, heart conditions, stroke, tumors, certain medicines or heredity. There are several types of hearing loss: Nerve Nerve or sensorineural hearing loss involves damage to the inner ear. It can be caused by aging, birth defects, head injury tumors, illness, certain prescription drugs, poor blood circulation, high blood pressure or stroke. Nerve hearing loss usually cannot be repaired surgically; it's usually corrected with a hearing aid. Conductive Conductive hearing loss occurs in some older people when sounds that are carried from the eardrums to the inner ear are blocked. This can be due to wax build up, abnormal bone growth, a punctured eardrum, a congenital birth defect or ear infections. Conductive hearing loss generally can be corrected surgically. Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) When sounds become muffled or distorted, or it is difficult for the person to understand speech, Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) may be to blame. NIHL, which can be detected in a hearing exam, can result from exposure to loud sounds. Over an extended period of time, this exposure might damage the sensitive structures of the inner ear. NIHL is preventable. For example: A person should avoid noises that can cause damage (over 75 decibels), such as firecrackers and motorcycles. During loud activity, use earplugs or maskers* and be aware of hazardous noise in the environment. Are you or someone you love, experiencing any of these symptoms? Words are hard to comprehend. People's speech sounds slurred or mumbled. Trouble following a conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time. Problems hearing because of background noise. TV shows, concerts, or parties are less enjoyable because you cannot hear much. Complaints that you make the TV too loud. Difficulty hearing over the telephone. A ringing in the ears is heard (tinnitus). Dizziness or a sensation that the room is moving (vertigo). Don't ignore the warning signs. If the symptoms described above occur, call your family doctor! Remember, many of these symptoms can be successfully resolved. Tinnitus is common among older people. It is a medical term for ringing in the ears and/or head noises, such as buzzing, whistling, hissing, highpitched screeches, or other sounds. Sounds may be continuous, intermittent or synchronized with the heartbeat. It's a symptom associated with a variety of hearing disorders and diseases. Tinnitus can come intermittently throughout a lifetime or it can stop altogether. The good news is that tinnitus can be treated! The treatment is basically finding methods that help the patient cope with the sounds. Specialized maskers * or suppressors may provide relief or hearing aids may help to cover the noises and restore some measure of normal hearing. Vertigo is an inner ear problem that can cause a spinning, dizziness sensation when walking, rolling over while in bed or bending down. Vertigo is sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting. If recurring, vertigo warrants medical evaluation and treatment. Helping You Help Them Friends and families can help people with a hearing impairment by simply adhering to a few rules: Face the person, talk clearly and at a reasonable speed. Do not cover your mouth when speaking. Stand where there is good lighting and low background noise. Be patient and keep a positive attitude. Include the hearing-impaired person in all discussions about him or her to prevent feelings of isolation. Treatment If a hearing problem exists, there's help! Visit a family doctor, who may diagnose and treat the problem or refer the patient to an otolaryngologist and an audiologist. An otolaryngologist is a physician who specializes in diseases of the ears, nose, throat, head and neck. An audiologist is a trained health professional, who will conduct a hearing test to identify and measure hearing loss and to rehabilitate persons with healing impairments. The audiologist may work with the otolaryngologist. They will help the patient to understand the options regarding treatment; and there are many. Special training, hearing aids, certain medicines and surgery are some of the choices that could help people with hearing problems. Hearing Aids A doctor may suggest using a hearing aid. This is a small electronic device with a small microphone that amplifies sounds through a small speaker. In order for the hearing aid to work, you must have some ability to hear. There are many kinds of hearing aids with different sizes and features. You will need to get fitted for a hearing aid that suits your needs. * A device that fits in the ear like a hearing aid and presents a pleasant sound in order to help obliterate external sounds.

5 For more information, contact the following organizations: American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. (AAO-HNS) Contact AAO-HNS for physician referrals: One Prince Street, Alexandria, VA (703) American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Contact ASHA for a list of certified audiologists and speech-language pathologists: Rockville Pike, Dept. AP Rockville, MD (800) call toll-free: DIOCESE ( ) THE MANOR AT ST. MARY S Full Service Residence for Active Seniors 220 St. Mary s Drive, Cherry Hill, NJ ST. MARY S CATHOLIC HOME 210 St. Mary s Drive, Cherry Hill, NJ OUR LADY S MULTI-CARE CENTER 1100 Clematis Avenue, Pleasantville, NJ BISHOP MCCARTHY RESIDENCE 1045 East Chestnut Avenue, Vineland, NJ MATER DEI NURSING HOME Skilled Nursing Home 176 Route 40, Newfield, NJ MDU, Inc. All Rights Reserved

AgePage. Hearing Loss

AgePage. Hearing Loss National Institute on Aging AgePage Hearing Loss Hearing loss can affect your life in many ways. It can range from missing certain sounds to total loss of hearing. Hearing loss can be serious. You may