Hearing Loss in Older Adults

All too frequently, people have unrealistic expectations about what hearing aids can accomplish. They do not understand that aids cannot restore "perfect" hearing in the same way that eyeglasses can correct poor eyesight. Nowadays, there is greater success with the newer hearing aids, because there have been tremendous advances in audiological testing, diagnosis and hearing aid technology. It is now possible to fit for hearing losses that may have been difficult or impossible to fit in the past.

The ground-breaking Cochlear Implant (CI) surgery has given hearing to many adults who have lost so much acuity that they can no longer use traditional hearing aids.

Obstacles to hearing loss success

I believe that the major obstacles to hearing aid success are:

a) People often do not take sufficient time to patiently adjust to using their new hearing aids.

b) They lack the assertiveness to communicate effectively with their hearing aid dispensers to assure the best "fit".

c) They expect perfection to happen miraculously, without working on their interpersonal communication skills.

Importance of support groups

That is why I believe support groups for people with hearing loss and their families are an excellent way to share information, learn new, creative and effective coping skills and practice speech reading. My motto is that "communication is a two-way street", thus hearing loss becomes everyone's problem.

Some barriers to seeking help

Many older adults who are late-deafened are leery of what they view as "hard-sell" tactics of some hearing aid dispensers. They are also confused by the conflicting claims they see in printed ads.

I suggest three ideal steps toward better hearing:

1) Consult a physician (ENT - ear-nose-throat specialist, otologist or otolaryngologist) for a medical evaluation.

2) Consult an audiologist (I prefer an AuD= Doctor of Audiology) who has no financial interest in selling a hearing aid. The goal is to learn what type and degree of hearing loss exists and whether a hearing aid might help. Get a copy of your audiogram for personal use.

3) Explore the appropriate types of hearing aids that will fit your uniquely individual hearing loss, dexterity, vanity and budget.

The process of hearing aid selection involves audiologists' clinical skills at taking precise measurements, their judgment, and a certain amount of trial-and-error fitting before getting the best custom results. In the future, more dispensing audiologists will provide follow-up (aural) education to help hearing aid users adapt to their new aids and the new sounds they are hearing. Family members should also be involved in these sessions.

A hearing aid is only as good the professional who directly evaluates the patient. A poorly adjusted hearing aid can be both uncomfortable and damage the ear. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates hearing aids and similar devices, requires a medical evaluation before a hearing aid may be fitted. I think it unwise to purchase hearing aids without that evaluation. Otherwise you will be required to sign a waiver if you wish to bypass this FDA requirement. In addition, buying hearing aids by mail or over the Internet means you won't get the individual attention you should have.

Hearing aids improve quality of life

Dr. Sergei Kochkin of the Better Hearing Institute reported in November 2004 that 93 percent of hearing aid users surveyed reported that their aids have a positive impact on their quality of life.

They experienced improvements in:
- Effective communication,
- Social and family relationships, feelings of safety,
- Self-confidence, work relationships,
- Sense of independence, emotional health,
- Improved mental ability, and
- Physical health.

Aural rehabilitation increases quality of life

The availability of post-fitting rehabilitation will be greatly enhanced as more Peer Mentors and hearing loss support specialists are professionally-trained to work with hard of hearing people and their families.

Hard of hearing Peer Mentors like me, are a unique resource for extending and enriching the professional services of audiologists and dispensers by reinforcing what they tell their clients. Our role is to help people to better understand the subtle and profound impact of hearing loss on their lives and to learn creative coping.

Resources for this article

AARP at links.aarp.org/hearingaid

Alexander Graham Bell Assn. for the Deaf, www.agbell.org

American Academy of Audiology, www.audiology.org

American Speech, Language, Hearing Assn. (ASHA)
www.asha.org or email: actioncenter@ASHA.org
See ASHA's Assistance Device Demonstration Center

Association of Late Deafened Adults, www.alda.org

The Better Hearing Institute, BHI, www.betterhearing.org for statistics.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines: "Sound Advice on Hearing Aids" at www.ftc.gov

Harvey, Michael, Ph.D., "Odyssey of Hearing Loss", 1998, Dawn Sign Press, www.dawnsign.com

Hearing Health Magazine, www.hearinghealthmag.com

Hearing Loss Association of America (formerly Self Help for Hard of Hearing people), www.hearingloss.org

League for the Hard of Hearing, www.lhh.org

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, www.nihdcd.nih.gov

Waggoner, Laine, Hearing loss articles on web site at www.vitalco.net

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