Not hearing grandchildren main reason for hearing test

January 2010

Editor: I guess it isn't too much of a surprise to learn that grandparents often get their hearing tested because they're unable to hear their grandchildren's tiny voices. Here's the story from the folks at hear-it.org.

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A sense of social exclusion from not hearing grandchildren clearly is the biggest single trigger for retirement age people to do something about their hearing loss, according to a recent study.

As people age, many suffer from high frequency hearing loss, making it hard for them to hear the high frequency voices of children. Often, grandparents become aware of the extent of their gradual hearing loss when they are together with their grandchildren, prompting the grandparents to decide to have their hearing tested.

The study found that older grandchildren, in particular, tend to encourage their grandparents to have their hearing tested, and often they even make the appointment for them.

Treatment of the hearing loss almost always results in closer relationships between grandparents and grandchildren.

Other triggers to act on hearing loss identified in the research included Christmas parties, eating out in restaurants with friends, work meetings and trips to the pub, theatre and church.