---

Author: Debbie Humphrey

I was listening to a thunderstorm recently, and a bright flash of lightning followed by a loud clap of thunder rattled my husband, dog, and me. We carefully inspected our property and our neighborhood in case the lightning strike had caused any damage. Fortunately, all was good.

Not long after that occurred, I saw a TV commercial about hearing aids, and it got me thinking. How do seniors with hearing impairment in Pasco and Pinellas counties hear the telephone, TV, loud claps of thunder, weather alerts, or home devices like alarm clocks or appliance timers?

HealthinAging.org says, “Fifty percent of Americans over 65 suffer from hearing loss, although it is more common in older men than in older women.”

Furthermore, Daily Caring, an award-winning senior caregiving website, says, “Hearing loss is actually the 3rd most common physical condition after arthritis and heart disease (in seniors). In fact, nearly 1 in 4 people aged 65 to 74, and half of people aged 75+ have disabling hearing loss.”

12 Signs of Hearing Impairment

We should all be aware of and pay attention to signs seniors are hearing impaired in West Pasco & Pinellas Counties. The top 12 signs of hearing loss are:

• Problems hearing while on the phone
• Difficulties following conversations with two or more people
• Turning the volume up when watching tv or listening to the radio
• Straining to understand a conversation
• Problems hearing when there are heavy background noises
• Complaints of dizziness, pain, or ringing in the ears
• Requests for people to repeat what they said
• Complaints of people mumbling or not speaking clearly
• Misunderstanding what people are saying and responding inappropriately
• Difficulties understanding when women or children talk
• Anti-social behavior and isolation
• Dementia-like confusion

If you notice any of these signs and symptoms of hearing loss in a senior loved one, it is critical to get them to their doctor for treatment recommendations. A visit with an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist may be the best course of action.

Daily Caring confided, “Unfortunately, only 20% of people who could benefit from hearing treatment actually seek help. Most put it off until they can’t communicate even in the best listening situations.”

Causes of Hearing Loss

Damage to the inner ear due to prolonged exposure to extremely loud noises can result in hearing loss. Infections and certain medications can also contribute to hearing impairment. The majority of seniors, however, have gradually lost their hearing abilities due to the natural progression of aging known as presbycusis.

Hearing Loss and its Link to Dementia

When hearing loss goes undiagnosed and treated, it can negatively impact the area of the brain associated with hearing, leading to poor mental outcomes including depression, cognitive decline, and dementia.
Daily Caring continues, “There are 3 main theories for why hearing loss is linked to cognitive decline.”

⦁ Cognitive load – the brain is too busy trying to hear to focus on memory and thinking
⦁ Brain atrophy – unused parts of the brain can waste away
⦁ Social isolation – being unable to hear may cause seniors to avoid socializing

Please remember, if you or a senior loved one is experiencing any level of hearing loss, I strongly encourage you to speak to your doctor for diagnosis and treatment options to prevent further hearing impairment and promote a healthier quality of life, both mentally and physically.

HealthinAging.org explained, “While hearing loss may be permanent, there is help available to make up for the loss, such as devices to make the telephone and radio louder, hearing aids, and certain techniques like lip reading.”

The caregivers I employ at Home Helpers Clearwater often assist senior clients who have some level of hearing impairment in the communities we serve. For instance, one lady always has the TV turned up very loud so she can hear it, even though she wears a hearing aid. Her family members swear she turns the hearing aid down to avoid listening to them. (Ironically, my aunt used to claim that my uncle did that with his hearing aid, too!)

My compassionate care team is available to assist the hearing impaired in West Pasco and Pinellas counties with a variety of in-home care services to make life easier and more fulfilling. I am happy to offer a FREE Consultation to assess specific needs and create a personalized care plan to help.

We, at Home Helpers® Clearwater, are honored to have been ranked among the Home Care Pulse Top 100 Leaders in Experience for home care providers and to have received these awards in 2024: Best of Home Care® Provider of Choice, the Best of Home Care® Employer of Choice, the Best of Home Care® Leader in Experience, as well as being named a Caring.com 2023 Caring Super Star.

We proudly serve male and female seniors in Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, Dunedin, Holiday, Hudson, Largo, New Port Richey, Oldsmar, Palm Harbor, Port Richey, Safety Harbor, Saint Petersburg, Seminole, Tarpon Springs, Trinity, and surrounding areas. Home Helpers®…we are Making Life Easier® 727.942.2539

Sources:
HealthinAging.org
Daily Caring