Does your aging parent display issues or deficiencies in hearing?
Communication and awareness are two of the most important aspects of daily living, yet the decrease in hearing that occurs as we age can make it hard to stay sharp.
There are also questions of safety, especially with an aging person who lives on their own. Not being able to hear the smoke alarm, doorbell or a possible intruder can pose serious threats to your parent’s safety and security.
If you aren’t sure it’s time to take your parent for a hearing test, check out our list of telltale signs of hearing issues.
Trouble Hearing When There’s Background Noise
When your parent is out in the world, do you notice he or she missing important cues or sounds? If you’re in a noisy store, and they can’t seem to hear you or other people addressing or approaching them, it might be a sign of serious hearing loss.
Ask them if they can hear the birds or the leaves rustling when they go outside; can they pick out subtler sounds in the world when they take place among background noise?
Inability to drown out background noise is one of the chief signs of hearing loss, but it is also easily corrected with modern hearing loss correctors.
Family History of Hearing Loss
If you know that your grandparents or great-grandparents had hearing loss, it might be a good idea to be precautious with your own parents.
If they have a genetic predisposition towards hearing loss, suggest a hearing test to make sure that they aren’t on the fast track to increased hearing loss or even deafness.
Needing Frequent Repetition In Conversation
Difficulty hearing words that are spoken at a normal level of volume can signify increased hearing loss.
Because human voices contain all kinds of frequencies, a person with hearing loss will have trouble picking up on a few of them, making it difficult for them to make out what the other person is trying to say.
If your aging loved one or parent constantly asks you to repeat things during conversation or strains to read your lips while you talk, you may want to have a conversation about getting a hearing test and looking into corrective measures.
Requesting That the Television or Radio Be Louder Than Usual
Feeling that the television or radio isn’t loud enough is a common sign that hearing loss has increased– especially if your parent needs the television to be so loud that it’s uncomfortable for other people in the room.
First, ask your parent if they’re experiencing an increased difficulty hearing their favorite television shows or radio programs. If they admit that their hearing abilities have decreased, recommend a hearing test to see what the problem is.
Ringing in the Ears
If your parent is complaining of a constant ringing in the ears, especially after hearing a loud noise or being in a loud environment, it could be a sign of hearing loss.
A condition known as Tinnitus, known as “the sound that comes from nowhere,” is a condition that is characterized by ringing or buzzing in the ears; the condition can affects as many as 1 in 5 people.
What’s important to note that Tinnitus isn’t a condition on its own—it’s indicative of another issue with one’s hearing, such as an ear injury, age-related hearing loss, or a circulatory system problem.
These are just a few of the symptoms of hearing loss that might signal it’s time to take your aging parent for a hearing test.
Being able to hear well is an important part of living a full life. A hearing test may help your parent move forward towards options that help them hear and live better.
Contact us today to learn how Bluebird Homecare can help alert you and your loved ones of developing hearing issues.