Hearing loss can subtly infiltrate a world full of sounds and conversations, impairing the capacity to interact with others and completely changing one’s ability to engage with the environment. For seniors who are already experiencing multiple changes, this loss can significantly impact their social interactions, mental health, and general quality of life.
The best way to handle hearing loss in seniors is for loved ones and home care assistance caregivers to monitor hearing loss signs and encourage early intervention.
Some of the common signs to be mindful of are explored further below.
Difficulty Following Conversations
Seniors who have difficulty following conversations might also be struggling with hearing issues, especially if their struggles occur in a noisier environment. Signs that seniors might be having trouble include frequently asking people to repeat themselves as well as not understanding what is said.
Increasing the Volume
Seniors may be suffering from hearing loss if a home care assistance worker notices them regularly turning up the TV or radio to volumes that others find uncomfortable. This is done to compensate for the decreased capacity to hear sounds at normal decibel levels.
Withdrawal From Social Situations
Seniors who have hearing loss may choose to withdraw from social situations. Unfortunately, seniors are often already isolated due to changes in their friend group, mobility issues, and other factors. So, when hearing loss also forces them to withdraw, the issue becomes a danger to their well-being.
Of course, with home care assistance caregivers by their side, they have built-in social situations, but this also allows for better monitoring of their decreased social activities.
Misinterpreting Conversations
One of the most common signs of hearing loss is difficulty understanding spoken words, particularly when they contain higher frequencies like consonants. Seniors experiencing hearing loss frequently misunderstand what other people are saying, which can cause misunderstandings and poor communication.
Avoiding Phone Calls
Phone conversations can be especially difficult for those with hearing loss because there are no visual cues to help with understanding. Seniors who have trouble hearing the person on the other end of the line may avoid using the phone altogether or become irate during calls.
Experiencing Tinnitus
For many seniors, tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is an uncomfortable symptom that frequently coexists with hearing loss. Since this condition can worsen distressing feelings and negatively affect their overall quality of life, it should be monitored whether it is directly affected by hearing loss or not.
Issues With High-Pitched Sounds
The capacity to detect high-pitched noises decreases with age, making it more difficult to understand speech and other crucial auditory cues. Seniors who have hearing loss may find it difficult to hear phone rings, birds chirping, or doorbells.
Seniors who identify the warning signs early on and seek the right care can take back control of their auditory health and maintain deep relationships with others. Home care assistance caregivers and loved ones can monitor for signs of hearing loss and encourage seniors to make an appointment for a hearing evaluation with a licensed audiologist as soon as a hearing issue is suspected.
If you or someone you know needs Home Care Assistance in Rochester, MN, contact Adara Home Health. We provide quality and affordable home care services for many fragile or senior members in the communities we serve. Call us at (888) 660-5772 for more information.
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