The month of September is recognized as National Healthy Aging Month. This encompasses a wide variety of topics and issues, especially for people 55 years of age and older. Father Time and Mother Nature waits for no one.
One topic that rarely comes to mind to the general population is the ability to hear and understand conversation. Most of us just take our hearing for granted. Hearing loss of some type affects one out of every ten people in this country; from very mild losses to profoundly deaf individuals. Since the majority of hearing issues come on very gradually, many individuals do not even realize that a problem exists. Generally, someone else close to the hearing impaired person becomes aware of the problem before the individual with the hearing loss.
Tell-Tale Signs of a Hearing Impairment
Tell-tale signs such as turning up the television louder than normal; asking for questions, statements, and directions to be repeated; having difficulty hearing on the telephone or missing the ringing of the telephone; difficulty understand conversation in the car; hearing some people better than others, indicating that some people seem to mumble; requiring people raise their voices or move closer to hear them; speaking louder than normal; concentrating so much to listen that they tire from it; and having difficulty understanding in noisy environments are all tell-tale signs that a hearing impairment is present.
The First Thing To Do If You Suspect Hearing Loss
The first thing to do if you suspect you or a loved one’s hearing is below par is to schedule a hearing examination. The longer you wait, the worse it will become. Recent studies by Johns Hopkins School of Medicine determined that untreated hearing loss is a leading cause of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Those with severe losses (untreated) were five times more likely to suffer from the disease; even individuals with mild hearing loss are twice as likely to contract the disease. This is due to lack of proper stimulation to the part of the brain responsible for interpreting speech. The brain atrophies and loses function without “proper” constant stimulation.
New Digital Technology for Hearing Devices
The newest generation of hearing devices allows almost any type of hearing deficit to be overcome. Digital technology enables hearing devices to be “prescription fitted” with computer chips. If the hearing impaired person loses more hearing, the same devices can be re-programmed without the need to purchase new instruments. Most digital devices have “ATR”: automatic telephone response, which virtually eliminates annoying “squeal” hearing instrument wearers had to put up with in years past.
Multi-memory allows hearing instrument wearers to either turn their devices up or down, depending upon their listening environment, with a simple push of a button. Directional microphones are now allowing hearing device wearers to hear and understand speech better in the presence of background noises, by focusing on what is being said in front of the wearer, without interference from any noises behind.
Free, No Obligation Hearing Evaluation
Finally, if you or a person you know suspects a hearing impairment may be present, please call Leonardi Hearing Center at 239-997-8288 to set-up a free, no obligation hearing evaluation as soon as possible. Remember, we hear with our brains, not our ears!