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Hearing Loss and the Elderly

Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults. In fact, more and more baby boomers are experiencing hearing loss sooner in life than their parents and grandparents did.

Hearing loss comes in many forms. Some people lose hearing slowly as they age. Hearing loss can also range from a mild loss in which a person misses certain high pitched sounds, to a total loss of hearing. Hearing loss can also be hereditary or result from disease, trauma, certain medications or long term exposure to loud noise.

Elderly people with hearing loss may have trouble fully participating in everyday life. They may mistake words in conversation, miss directions or warnings, or leave a ringing doorbell unanswered. When an elderly person cannot hear well he or she may become depressed or withdrawn from others to avoid feeling frustrated or embarrassed about not understanding what is being said.

Some elderly people may have a hearing problem without realizing it. Others may think they have a problem, but are too embarrassed to tell the doctor, friends, or family. You can help identify a possible hearing problem by asking yourself the following questions. If you answer “yes” to three or more of these questions, you could have a hearing problem and may need to have your hearing checked by a doctor.

• Do I have a problem hearing on the telephone?
• Do I have trouble hearing when there is noise in the background?
• Is it hard for me to follow a conversation when two or more people talk at once?
• Do many people I talk to seem to mumble or not speak clearly?
• Do I misunderstand what others are saying and respond inappropriately?
• Do I often ask people to repeat themselves?
• Do I have trouble understanding the speech of women and children?
• Do people complain that I turn the TV or radio volume up too high?
• Do some sounds seem too loud?

If a hearing loss is ignored or untreated, it may become worse. But a hearing loss that is identified early can be helped through treatment. Many Elderly people who have a hearing loss wear a hearing aid. Hearing aids come in many shapes, sizes, and styles.

Even if you have a hearing loss, it is important to protect the hearing that remains. See your doctor. Hearing aids, special training, certain medicines are some of the choices that can help you with hearing problems.

For more information on hearing loss, Causes and Prevention, please log on NIH Senior Health, Hearing Loss.

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