Hearing Aids Assisting Older Adults

Age related hearing loss can occur due to multiple reasons

• Family history
• Frequent exposure to loud noise
• Smoking
• Certain medical conditions
• Changes in inner ears
• Complex changes along the nerve
• Medications

Presbycusis is the name given to age related hearing loss. It happens either due to a family history or because of some damage in the inner ear or auditory nerve. It makes a person less tolerant of loud noise.  Even though this type of hearing loss is gradual, it generally effects both the ears. With the advancement of technology, hearing aids like Signia hearing aids and Phonak hearing aids come in very handy to older adults with hearing impairments.

Signs and symptoms of age related hearing loss

• Trouble hearing over telephone
• Mumbled speech sounds
• Conversations hard to understand
• Reduced ability to hear and distinguished high-pitched sounds
• Sensation of hearing or ringing in the ears
• Hard to follow conversations
• Often asking people to repeat themselves
• Need to turn up the TV volume

Types of age related hearing loss

Hearing loss can occur in different forms depending on the degree of severity – from mild, top severe to profound. Age related hearing loss is generally of the following types:

Sensorineural hearing loss

• Occurs as a result of damage in the inner ear or auditory nerve
• This type of hearing loss is usually permanent in nature

Conductive hearing loss

• Occurs when sound waves are not able to reach the inner ear
• Caused due to earwax build up or a punctured eardrum
• Can be restored by medical treatment or surgery

Mixed hearing loss

• Is a combination of both sensorineural and conductive hearing losses
• Can be temporary or permanent depending on the degree of severity

Treatment of age related hearing loss

• Hearing aids – For those with mild to moderate hearing loss
• Cochlear implants – For ones with severe or profound hearing loss
• Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) – For amplifying TV or telephone sounds

How can hearing aids help older adults for hearing better?

• Helps maintain balance by preventing falls, collisions and getting tripped
• Improves your mood by preventing or reducing anxiety and depression
• Increases the brain function and working memory of older adults
• Decreases the risk of dementia
• Improves hearing in an area with loud noise
• Lessens the interference of background noise
• Comfortable ear molds that fit perfectly

Types and features of hearing aids to choose from

Signia hearing aids

• Speech master – Constricts contending speakers and commotions to segregate the objective speaker
• HD music – Offers a superior quality of listening experience
• Ecoshield – Provies with echoes and mellow resonations in conditions
• TwinPhone – Gives improved sound quality and discernibility during telephonic conversations
• Remote CROS/BiCROS – Has a transmitter that matches any remote primax instrument

Phonak hearing aids

• Roger Select – Comes with a wireless microphone made to improve speech understanding in loud noise
• Partner Mic – Discreet and easy to use microphone best suited for one-to-one conversations in noisy environments

At Quality Hearing Care, your health is our priority. We deal in both Signia and Phonak hearing aids for providing you the best assistance with your hearing loss treatment. Visit our clinic to book an appointment.