Dealing with Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is something that impacts millions of Americans. While many of those impacted are 65 or older, there are also many younger individuals that suffer from hearing loss. Still, if you have an older loved one, there is a high risk that hearing loss is or will be an issue in the near future.

 

One of the first things that we should consider is that being hard of hearing is exhausting. The brain goes into cognitive overdrive trying to fit all of the bits and pieces of a conversation together in order to make sense of partially heard words. This is not a physical activity that we can observe happening with the naked eye, but the process is physically exhausting for the person who is going through it. It’s not uncommon for someone who is hard of hearing to be completely wiped out just a few minutes into a conversation. Trying to fill in the missed parts is tiring. They might not even know why they are suddenly so beat, but this can certainly be observed in attitudes. For example, if a loved one gets cranky a few minutes after you start speaking with them, this can be a sign that it’s time to give them a break. Trying to hear might not look it, but it is heavy duty labor.

 

Another potential issue is that hearing loss can have a profound impact on cognitive health. People with hearing loss are at an increased risk of developing dementia, for example. Although there is not a direct cause and effect here, there is a positive correlation. In other instances, issues like depression, anxiety, and frustration will be present because of the difficulty in communicating that can arise.

 

Hearing loss is a very real problem for many seniors.

 

Usually, if this is rectified in the early stages, the risk of dementia can be minimized. Still, losing this sense can seem like you are being cut off from the world around you. Those who are suffering with hearing loss find that they need to be proactive about their health in order to keep themselves mentally fit. This can mean something like using a hearing aid with regularity, asking people to speak in a manner that allows your loved one to hear them better, or maybe just speaking with more clarity. No one wants to see a loved one suffer from cognitive decline, and helping to relieve hearing issues can be one way to do this.

 

Of course, having a trained professional on your side can be helpful. A caregiver can do much more than just provide supervision and companionship. Many care services, like Paradise In-Home Care, provide transportation to and from doctors’ appointments in order to help individuals get help when it comes to hearing issues and anything else that might be on the table. If you’re unsure if a care service offers medical transportation, be sure to ask them directly about it before you agree to any sort of services. This way, you can know exactly what you’re getting for your money and what, if any, other arrangements will need to be made to take care of these necessities.

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