Can You Hear Me Now?

ST. LOUIS: Age-related hearing loss is the loss of hearing that gradually occurs as we grow older. It is one of the most common conditions affecting senior citizens. MediNurse, St. Louis’ premier provider of private duty nursing care, identifies questions to ask to help determine hearing loss.

Age-related hearing loss impacts one in three people in the U.S. between the ages of 65 and 74, and nearly half of adults older than 75. Serious consequences when suffering from hearing loss include: not understanding what a doctor is advising, not responding to warnings, missing emergency phone calls and hearing smoke alarms. Hearing loss is gradual, affects both ears equally and is difficult to recognize until actual loss of hearing occurs.

Multiple factors contribute to hearing loss as we grow older. It’s often difficult to distinguish age-related hearing loss from hearing loss occurring for other reasons. For instance, conditions more common in seniors such as high blood pressure and diabetes, can contribute to hearing loss.

Questions to ask to determine if you have a hearing problem:

• Do you feel frustrated when talking to family members because you have difficulty hearing them?
• Do you have difficulty hearing or understanding co-workers, clients or customers?
• Do you feel restricted or limited by a hearing problem?
• Does a hearing problem cause you to argue with family members?
• Do you have trouble hearing the TV or radio at levels that are loud enough for others?
• Do you feel that any difficulty with your hearing limits your personal or social life?

Treatment options often depend on the severity of the hearing loss. Common recommendations can include: hearing aids, cochlear implants, bone anchored hearing systems, assistive listening devices, lip reading or speech reading.

If you answered “yes” to any 3 of the questions listed above, MediNurse recommends that you make an appointment with your doctor to determine the extent of your hearing loss.

MediNurse is St. Louis’ premier provider of private duty nursing services. MediNurse provides services that are customized to the individual needs of the client or patient and loved ones to ensure the best care possible. For more information, call 314-781-2800 or visit www.medinurse.com.