After the age of 55, it’s estimated that almost nine percent of the men and women in the U.S. have disabling hearing loss. Most people who experience hearing loss start to notice in their 60s. By the age of 75, it’s estimated that half of those adults deal with disabling hearing loss.
Signs of Hearing Loss
If your parents are dealing with hearing loss, you’ll probably notice. Some of the common signs include:
- Avoidance of social gatherings like dinners out or parties
- Constantly requesting people to repeat what they said
- Difficulty understanding what someone said
- Embarrassment meeting new people due to difficulty hearing what the say
- Frustration during conversations with multiple people or people who speak softly
- Turning the volume on the TV or radio to levels others say are too loud
Hearing loss may be a temporary issue. Your parents need to go for a hearing test and examination. It can be a blockage due to ear wax. It could be a permanent form of hearing loss, but there will be options to help your parents hear as much as possible. It’s best to learn as early as possible and discuss possible options and limitations.
What Can You Do?
If your parents are finding it hard to function due to hearing loss, they must address it with their doctor. Hearing aids can help. A surgical procedure may be available. They may need to learn to adjust to hearing loss and learn other approaches like sign language or lip-reading.
Learn how to talk with your parents. Look at them while you speak. Increase your volume a little and slow down. If you have a habit of talking fast, slow it down and pause to give your mom and dad time to process what was said. Senior care is another way to help your parents.
When hearing loss is present, your mom and dad may not hear oncoming cars when they’re out walking. They may not hear a smoke alarm when they’re cooking dinner. If they can’t hear traffic, they may not be allowed to drive. Don’t worry unnecessarily. Look into the services offered by a local senior care agency.
Caregivers become a lifesaver when it comes to having companionship on walks, help with meal preparation, and transportation to area businesses and offices. Call a senior care agency to discuss the other ways caregivers can help your parents live independently with hearing loss.
If you or an aging loved one needs Senior Care in Fair Oaks, CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.
Sources:
https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing
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