subject: How Hearing Loss Can Affect Your Way Of Life [print this page] There are about 31.5 million Americans who have hearing loss and less than half ever seek treatment while two thirds of them are older than 55.
In this case, impaired hearing can have a negative impact on your quality of life and so it is important that you be aware of hearing loss as you grow older. When there are older people who suffer from hearing impairments, they usually withdraw, become depressed, and may even die before their time.
A hearing loss problem develops through the years and there are times when people do not recognize the extent of the problem until family or friends bring it to their attention. To help your mom see where she stands, here is a simple test.
In her case, does she experience trouble hearing over the telephone? Does she frequently have to ask others to repeat themselves? When it comes to understanding people in groups or in noisy situations, is she having a hard time with this?
Does she experience trouble knowing where sounds are coming from? Are there times when someone talks to her from another room and she does not understand? Does she avoid family meetings or social situations because she can't understand?
Here, if she answered yes to three or more of these questions, she probably has a hearing problem. Besides getting a hearing evaluation from an audiologist, she should also see an otolaryngologist, a doctor who specializes in ear, nose and throat disorders.
Other options to take include the use of hearing aids. Advances in design and technology have dramatically improved hearing aids over the past few years. She should work with an audiologist to find the right kind.
Other things she could use are the assistive devices. You can resort to these products if you have less than perfect hearing.
Most of the time, these include TV and radio listening systems, assistive listening devices, telephone amplifying devices, and alert products like flashing light doorbells and smoke detectors.
What can be done if the loss of hearing is already severe is cochlear implant surgery. Made available is a great program especially for the millions of Americans who need hearing aids but can't afford them.
This is actually a new non-profit service and they work by helping people purchase new hearing aids at greatly discounted prices.
It is important here that your income level is no higher than 2 1/2 times the national poverty level. No asset test is necessary in this case and financing plans are available.
Considering that you are eligible, you will receive an examination by a hearing health professional and you will also be fitted with new, digital behind the ear hearing aids.
Other than having discounts that range between 30 percent and 75 percent, routine follow up visits will also be provided.
Available in many states is a telecommunications equipment distribution program and what they do is provide free telephone equipment to people with hearing problems. You can check with your local phone company and visit their web site for information.
