WHY HEARING LOSS IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN YOU THINK

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TYPES OF HEARING LOSS

Some people are born with hearing loss (congenital hearing loss), while others may develop it gradually as they age (presbycusis) or as a result of physical illness or trauma. Heredity and chronic exposure to loud noises are believed to be the main contributing factors to hearing loss over time. Other factors, such as the presence of a wax plug or foreign bodies in the ear canal, can prevent the normal perception of sounds.

Diagnosis allows you to determine the severity of the hearing problem. Your doctor or specialist can advise you to take several measures to improve conductive problems, but in some cases, it is impossible to reverse or prevent hearing loss

HEARING LOSS ON THE ELDERLY AGE

I have been asked several times “Why do we elderly people have hearing difficulty?”

As we age, a person’s ability to perceive sounds steadily decreases. This condition is known as presbycusis. Presbycusis usually occurs around the age of 50. The older you are, the greater the chance of hearing impairment. Thus one in three people between the ages of 60 and 70 suffer from age-related hearing loss. Even greater is the number of people over 70: about 60 percent are affected by hearing difficulties.

So, the short answer is that aging is the main cause of hearing impairment. Some people begin to gradually lose their hearing from the age of 30-40 and the disorder becomes more pronounced with age. Most people have significant hearing problems when they reach the age of 80.

Age-associated hearing loss occurs when nerve or hair cells within the cochlea gradually degenerate and die. When these components are damaged or missing, electrical signals are not transmitted as efficiently and hearing loss occurs. High-frequency sounds, such as the voices of women or children, can become difficult to hear. It can also be difficult to understand consonants (such as the letters s, t, p, and f). This type of hearing loss is permanent.

THE EFFECT OF HEARING LOSS ON THE ELDERLY AGE

Hearing loss can cause loneliness
Isolation (Check out this post on The Effects of Isolation on Dementia)
Dependence
Frustration
Inability to communicate properly
Hatred of aging

WAYS CAREGIVERS CAN HELP THEIR LOVE ONE COPE WITH HEARING LOSS

What should caregivers do when they notice hearing loss from an elderly?

Many people don’t want to admit that they have a hearing problem. Older adults who do not listen well may become depressed or withdraw from others to avoid feeling frustrated or embarrassed by not understanding what is being said. Often elders can become confused, unresponsive, or cooperate because they don’t listen well.

Hearing problems that are ignored or left untreated can get worse. If your loved one has a hearing problem, they should see their doctor and learn about the options available to them.

For this reason, the closest family members or possible caregivers must take the situation in hand before the consequences of a hearing disorder irreparably affect the quality of life of the elderly.

These can include:

Hearing aids
Special training
Some Medicines
Surgery

STARTING THE CONVERSATION

It is never easy to deal with a problem with someone you love, particularly if the person is older than you, like a parent, or isn’t used to following your advice. Here are some helpful tips for dealing with this type of problem:

Start a dialogue and encourage your loved one to talk about the problem. You can start the conversation by saying, “I’ve noticed that when we talk in person or on the phone, you don’t always understand what I’m saying or ask me to repeat myself.
Bring some relevant literature with you like the hearing loss quiz. Ask your loved one to pass the quiz with you or let him or her do it on their own later. The person may be shy about dealing with you and may need some time to adjust to the idea that other people have noticed their hearing problems.
Encourage your loved one to talk to their doctor or, if you are accompanying them to medical appointments, ask the doctor directly about hearing loss.
Remember to be patient. People are often embarrassed or discouraged by hearing loss. They don’t want to wear a device that is visible on the ear. They don’t want other people to know that they may be suffering from hearing loss. Let them know that recent advances have improved hearing technologies and that they may be able to choose a hearing aid in a size or style that will remain inconspicuous.

THE BEST WAY A CAREGIVER CAN HELP THE ELDERLY TO ACCEPT HEARING LOSS

Talking and encouraging the elderly to confide in his fears is the first step to help him accept hearing loss and identify, with the help of a professional, the most appropriate solution.

Hearing loss is a disorder that can be treated and it is important to fix this in the mind of the person affected.

The second step is to accompany your loved one to a specialist doctor who will prescribe an audiometric examination and other specific hearing tests to arrive at a detailed diagnosis, based on which to identify the most appropriate intervention therapy.

The most common solution to the treatment of hearing loss involves the purchase of a hearing aid, which will be easy to identify with the professional support of a hearing care technician based on the patient’s daily habits and listening needs.

There are many hearing aids on the market and with the help of a hearing professional, the most suitable prostheses for the treatment of hearing loss will be identified

THE BENEFIT OF HEARING AIDS

Naturally, hearing aids are one of the best solutions to restore some sense of normalcy. Sound amplification with a hearing aid is useful in people with sensorineural or conductive deafness. Unfortunately, a hearing aid does not return normal hearing. However, it should significantly improve the ability to communicate and recognize sounds.

All hearing aids are equipped with a microphone that picks up sound, a battery-powered amplifier that increases its volume, and a means of transmitting sound to the subject. Most hearing aids transmit sound via a small microphone placed inside the ear canal. Others, which require surgical implantation, transmit sounds directly to the bony structures of the middle ear (ossicles) or skull rather than through a microphone.

People with profound hearing loss often communicate using sign language. American Sign Language (ASL) is the most widely used version in the United States. Other forms of language that use visual signs include Signed English, Signing Exact English, and Cued Speech.

MYTH ABOUT HEARING AIDS

Hearing aids are neither practical nor beautiful.
The hearing aid is only needed in old age.
Hearing aids are so expensive that, difficult to purchase
Only one hearing aid is needed even if I have lost hearing in both ears.
With a hearing aid, I can immediately start hearing perfectly again.
A hearing aid whistles continuously.
Hearing aids heavily alter ambient noises.
You only need to adjust your hearing aid once.
Not possible to make phone calls with a hearing aid.

PROS OF HEARING AIDS

The main function of hearing aids is to recover the perception of useful sounds and the understanding of words.

Easy maintenance
Regular use of hearing aids avoids the worsening of hearing loss and its consequent reflection in the processing centers of the brain.
Depression is also another complication that is averted by patients who wear hearing aids as soon as their hearing loss is diagnosed.
The regular use of hearing aids generates a series of benefits for the patient’s life and mood.

CONS OF HEARING AIDS

Those who wait several years before deciding to wear hearing aids experience worsening hearing discrimination.
Discomfort in noisy environments;
Aesthetics;
The difficulty of understanding the word;
Difficulty in using hearing aids (difficulty inserting it in the ear – battery change);
Acceptance of the hearing problem
The attitude of hearing care professionals.

3 High Quality Affordable Hearing Aids Options

LEXIE HEARING AIDS:

Lexie hearing aids are manufactured by the hearX Group. The firm is located in South Africa, but it operates in the United States for customer service, production, and delivery. The firm got its start in hearing technology with a sound screening app that has been downloaded by one million individuals across the world.

LEXIE LUMEN PRODUCT FEATURES

The Lexie Lumen has double microphones that provide directional hearing as well as digital noise management, which adapts automatically in loud situations to focus on speech while minimizing background noise. The gadget also includes six distinct hearing environments, allowing users to tailor their devices to pick up the appropriate noises based on their surroundings. The Lexie website has further information about the Lumen’s extensive set of features.

Lexie Hearing Aids come with a one-year warranty.

A one-year manufacturer’s warranty is included with all Lexie hearing aids. This guarantee covers hearing aid malfunctions, so if a Lumen fails after the first year of usage, it can be fixed or replaced. The warranty does not cover loss or theft, however customers who are still within their warranty term can have their aids replaced for $120 per ear.

Library of Hearing

Lexie maintains a large Hearing Library with informative information on a variety of issues relating to hearing aids, deafness, and health to better assist users.

Lexie App for Hearing Aids

The Lexie Hearing app is an important element of the Lexie experience, and it enhances the Lumen’s functionality. For a simple introduction to utilizing their new gadget, new users may utilize the app’s informative step-by-step setup instructions.

Click here, to see what else Lexie Hearing Aids have to offer.

OTOFONIX HEARING AIDS

The Otofonix Elite Exclusive Digital Hearing Amplifier offers the most creative, cutting-edge highly developed modern media as well as the most natural selection on the marketplace today for a cheaper price of most hearing aids, making it the cheaper no-prescription-needed model available today.

HEAR ULTRA CLEAR SOUNDS WITH HIGH PERFORMANCE.

It magnifies sound in the human voice’s best speech tones while also reducing and canceling noise level. Circuit board that saves energy enables each battery to last longer.

Tiny, Modest, Light, AND Convenient: This Light – weight Headset Features Invisible Natural Curve Tubes, Another Operation, and Volume Hearing Control. Fits comfortably behind the ears and may be worn with any set of headphones.

RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX READY TO WEAR: There is no particular framework or programming adjustments. These are the most basic and fully prepared protective devices amplifiers.

RETURNS, WARRANTIES, AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

All Otofonix products come with a one-year warranty and a 45-day money back guarantee. Hearing aids are notoriously difficult to adjust to, so having a warranty and a return window is beneficial. Their website has a detailed FAQ page as well as a good collection of captioned films that cover the most common difficulties and concerns that potential clients have. On their website, users may also buy replacement domes, tubes, and batteries.

For $9.95 each month, Otofonix provides an extra insurance plan that covers damages. Which is great, if you’re prone to losing things. We’ve all been there.

Click here, to see what else Otofonix Hearing Aids have to offer.

3. HEAR-BETTER.COM

They have the highest-rated hearing aids at Hear Better. Hearing aids and related parts are available at a discount. Many individuals use these hearing aids, and you can readily find hearing aid reviews for these devices at hear-better.com

All hearing aids sold by hear-better.com are constantly on sale. Hear-Better.Com tries to provide the highest quality hearing aids at the most affordable rates. They collaborate with vendors to find the finest hearing aids. More pay less, according to Hear-Better.com.

Hearing aids from Hear-Better are the best-rated hearing aids according to its customers.

They have a big range of digital hearing aids, rechargeable hearing aids, and Bluetooth hearing aids from Hear-Better hearing aid providers. They choose the best hearing aids from a vast number of options.

At hear-better.com, Siemens hearing aids are less expensive. They buy in bulk and receive unique discounts from our suppliers. Siemens Signia was the world’s leading producer of high-quality hearing aids.

Click Here, to see what else hear-better.com has to offer.

IN SUMMARY

If you or a loved one is experiencing hearing loss, don’t wait. The longer you wait, the worse the outcomes.

If you have hearing loss, we recommend consulting your primary care physician or seeing a specialist, such as an otolaryngologist, audiologist, or hearing aid expert as soon as possible.

If you think you can’t a afford a hearing aid, check out some of the affordable options above, after seeing a health care professional

Be Blessed,