Ears to You

Come Home to better hearing

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Wait for it….

The Crossings on the Peninsula has asked me to share information from my profession with the public on August 23 and September 20. Both talks are planned for 2:00 PM. The Crossings is located at 3540 Victory Blvd. in Yorktown, VA. They provide assisted living and memory care for seniors. The public is invited to the talks.

The first talk is entitled “Hearing, Listening, and the Brain – Part 1.”

Topics include:

  • Effects of hearing loss on emotions, behavior, and relationships
  • The connection between hearing difficulty and falls risk in seniors
  • Medical options for better hearing
  • Strategies for better communication

The second talk is entitled “Hearing, Listening, and the Brain – Part 2.”

Topics include:

  • How modern hearing technology can work with your brain
  • PSAPs, hearables, & hearing aids: what’s the difference?
  • How to navigate the hearing care marketplace

I expect some questions from the first audience may touch on issues I’ll address in the second talk. To these questions I’ll give brief answers that I hope will satisfy, but for the most part they’ll have to wait for it.

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Loneliness and hearing loss

A recent article in our local paper, the Daily Press  reported that “…geriatricians, and other health and social service providers are growing increasingly worried about loneliness among seniors…their concerns are fueled by studies showing it is linked to serious health problems…” The article listed memory loss, strokes, heart disease, and high blood pressure as possible consequences, and hearing loss or life changes such as retirement among possible causes.

Seniors don’t have to take loneliness sitting down. The article tells about an organization called the Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly that connects seniors and volunteers. There are only a few chapters around the nation, however, just knowing about a work like this may motivate someone to start a local chapter or an organization like it. The article also tells of an AARP Foundation online network called Connect2Affect. This network allows people to do a self-assessment and reach out to others who feel disconnected. A quote from the AARP’s chief medical officer summarizes the problem, “Loneliness is a huge issue we don’t talk enough about,” said Charlotte Yeh, “There is a huge stigma.”

The effect of hearing loss on loneliness depends on the amount of hearing loss, the personality, and the social network of the one affected. Friends and family need to recognize when a senior they know is beginning to show signs of hearing loss. One indication is the volume level on the television. An assessment and treatment by an audiologist can dramatically reduce loneliness, improve a senior’s relationships, and get them back to activities they love.

The article was written by Anna Gorman of Kaiser Health.

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“Yes, Dear, that clock has always ticked.”

beautiful_clock_illustration_isolated_object_on_white_background_300I recently called a new hearing aid user to see how he was doing. His wife answered the phone and reported for him. One of her remarks was that he noticed the clock ticking on the wall. Usually we think of hearing aids in terms of helping people with speech understanding. That is often the primary goal because that is often the primary complaint: “I can hear her talking but I can’t understand what she’s saying.” [Read more…]

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It’s Okay to Cry

2016-10-20_thanks-outsidePeople react to better hearing in a wide variety of ways. Recently one of our patients came in for maintenance on a hearing aid. She brought a thank you card which expressed her appreciation and she cried as she described how precious better hearing is to her.

We don’t see that level of emotion every day, but we certainly appreciate all the cards we get. What is more common is the gentleman who has an obvious hearing loss, but who is in denial of the problem. Other people mumble. His wife turns away as she’s speaking and he doesn’t understand. It’s not his problem. I’ve probably put this next anecdote in a previous post, but it bears repeating, if only to point out how far some people will go in their denial. [Read more…]