Hearing Loss: A Common Problem for Older Adults
Hearing loss is a common problem caused by noise, aging, disease, and heredity, and it can make it difficult to communicate with friends and family. Treating hearing problems is important for cognitive, physical, and mental health.
Signs of Hearing Loss
If you are concerned about hearing loss or difficulty hearing other people’s voices, or if background noise is affecting your ability to hear, you should see your doctor.
Types of Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when the inner ear or auditory nerve is damaged, while conductive hearing loss is caused by earwax buildup, fluid, or a punctured eardrum.
Sudden Hearing Loss
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss, also known as sudden deafness, is a sudden loss of hearing that can occur all at once or over a period of up to three days and should be treated as a medical emergency and seen by a doctor right away.
Age-Related Hearing Loss (Presbycusis)
Presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, develops over time and can make it difficult to tolerate loud noises or hear what others are saying. The loss is gradual and may not be noticeable at first.
Ringing in the Ears (Tinnitus)
Tinnitus can accompany any type of hearing loss and can be a sign of other health issues. Tinnitus can be caused by anything from a piece of earwax blocking the ear canal to something as simple as a piece of earwax blocking the ear canal. It can come and go and be heard in one or both ears.
Causes of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can be caused by noise from lawn mowers, snow blowers, or loud music, and it can also be caused by certain medications. Health conditions common in older people, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, can also contribute to hearing loss. People with hearing loss may find it difficult to converse.
How to Cope with Hearing Loss
Talk to your doctor if you notice any signs of hearing loss. Ask people to speak more slowly and clearly, and pay attention to what they’re saying and their facial expressions. Find a quiet place to talk to help reduce background noise. Use facial expressions or gestures to give clues.
Devices to Help with Hearing Loss
Cochlear implants are electronic devices for people with severe hearing loss, and alert systems can work with doorbells, smoke detectors, and alarm clocks. Over-the-counter hearing aids are expected to be available in stores and online in the next few years.
What percentage of adults over 70 have some type of hearing problems?
Hearing loss affects roughly one-third of adults between the ages of 61 and 70, and more than 80% of those over the age of 85, with men experiencing greater hearing loss and onset earlier than women.
How many US Americans have hearing loss or speech impediments?
Approximately 7.5 million people in the United States have difficulty using their voices, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD).
How many people are deaf or hearing impaired in the US?
According to the SIPP, fewer than one in every twenty Americans is deaf or hard of hearing, with nearly 10 million people hard of hearing and nearly 1 million people functionally deaf.
How many people 65 and older have hearing loss?
u2022 There are 164.5 million people aged 65 and up with disabling hearing loss, accounting for 33% of the world’s population aged 65 and up; approximately one-third of people aged 65 and up are affected by disabling hearing loss.
What is the most common cause of hearing loss in older adults?
Loud noise, such as that produced by lawn mowers, snow blowers, or loud music, can damage the inner ear, resulting in permanent hearing loss and tinnitus.
Which of the following is a leading cause of death in elderly people?
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the leading causes of death among adults 65 and older in the United States in 2019 were heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease.
What state has the highest deaf population?
While New Jersey has the lowest d/Deaf/hearing-impaired population in the country, West Virginia has the highest.
What percentage of the US population has a communication disorder?
Almost 8% of children in the United States suffer from a communication or swallowing disorder | The ASHA Leader.
What is Better hearing and speech Month?
The CDC supports Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM), which was founded in 1927 by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to ensure that no one is at risk of hearing loss due to loud noises.
Who is the most famous deaf person?
Helen Keller was a remarkable American educator, disability activist, and author, and the most famous DeafBlind person in history. Keller was 18 months old when she became deaf, blind, and mute due to an acute illness.
Where is the largest deaf community?
Rochester, located in western New York, has the nation’s largest deaf population per capita, with approximately 90,000 deaf or hard of hearing people living among the city’s 700,000 residents.
What percent of America is deaf or hard of hearing?
In the United States, approximately 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 children are born with a detectable level of hearing loss in one or both ears, and more than 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents. Approximately 15% of American adults (37.5 million) aged 18 and up report some difficulty hearing.
Is a loss of hearing due to aging?
The gradual loss of hearing in both ears is known as age-related hearing loss (or presbycusis), and it’s a common problem associated with aging. One in every three adults over the age of 65 has hearing loss.
What happens if hearing loss is not treated?
The emotional consequences of untreated hearing loss include fatigue, tension, stress, and depression, as well as avoidance or withdrawal from social situations, social rejection, and loneliness.
Does hearing loss get worse if untreated?
If you don’t treat your hearing loss, it will most likely get worse as you get older.