How To Protect Your Hearing As You Age

Does it seem like more people are mumbling these days? Have you found it hard to follow conversations in social settings or restaurants? You may be experiencing hearing loss, and it’s important to get a hearing exam as soon as possible.

Hearing loss can cause a range of problems for older adults, including:

Overall, hearing loss can have a significant impact on the lives of older adults, affecting their physical health, emotional well-being, and social connectedness.

“Hearing loss can sometime come disguised as cognitive decline, but they just can’t hear you!” explains Right at Home Central New Jersey franchise owner Beth Sholom. That’s why she makes a point of arranging in-home hearing screenings for all her new clients. If there is hearing loss, Beth helps her clients find appropriate hearing aids. While over-the-counter hearing aids have recently become available, Beth cautions that they might not be the best fit for older adults.

“Over-the-counter hearing aids are great, but a lot of times older adults have a hard time calibrating the hearing aids on their own,” Beth explains. Many of these hearing aids come with mobile applications for calibration. And although smartphone use is widespread, this option might not be a great fit for older adults.  

Screening for hearing loss also ensures that Beth and her caregivers are addressing any underlying health problems and can communicate appropriately with those in their care.

“I train my caregivers to speak directly to their clients, not shouting but speaking clearly and slowly with direct eye contact,” Beth says.

There are things you can do to take care of your hearing:

Age-related hearing loss is not an inevitable part of aging. You don’t need to feel left out when you’re in a social setting or miss beautiful sounds such as your grandchildren’s laughter. Consider regular hearing exams to be as important as regular physical exams.