Hearing loss impacts about 28 million people in the United States alone, and will touch the lives of nearly one third of people seniors over the age of 60. Seniors are often reluctant to seek help for the aging related changes they’re experiencing, so it often falls to loved ones, like family members, elder care professionals or friends to spot when an older adult is having challenges hearing and to encourage them to seek medical attention which may be beneficial. Some of the signs and symptoms of hearing loss may seem obvious, but it’s important to identify them and acknowledge their significance. These characteristics include:

• Misunderstanding what people say
• Asking people to repeat statements they’ve made in conversation
• Strained conversation over the phone
• Thinking or stating that people are mumbling or not speaking clearly
• Turning up the TV or radio very loudly

Other factors that may indicate hearing loss may be harder to detect, but can be surefire signs that a senior is in the earlier stages of losing their hearing. Be aware if a senior demonstrates any of the following symptoms:

• Increased difficulty hearing when there is background noise present
• An inability to pick up on environmental sounds, like birds chirping
• Attempting to read lips, by watching the speakers face during conversations
• Pretending to understand by agreeing, head nodding or laughing. Due to lack of comprehension, these cues might be used at an irrelevant time
• The senior removes his/herself physically from conversations that are too difficult to follow

As the hearing loss progresses and worsens, the above signs do become increasingly more obvious. Depending upon the type of hearing loss the senior is experiencing; including conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss or mixed hearing loss, they may only demonstrate a few of the above signs. However, it is important for families, friends and other associates to be aware of the potential indicators early on, so that any serious health problems may be ruled out by a doctor, and appropriate treatment can be administered to make the senior’s day to day life more comfortable.

Source:  Stronghealth.com

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