For advertising information call 859.368.0778 or email [email protected] | May 2016
“What’s
That You
Said?”
By Dr. Tom
Miller,
Staff Writer
Regardless of
whether it is limited
to missing certain sounds or is so serious someone fails to hear distinguishable sounds, age-related hearing loss is
a concern for many. About one-third
of all Americans between the ages of
65 and 74 years have hearing-related
problems (National Institute on Aging
2016). About half the people age 85
years and older have hearing loss.
During early-onset age-related
hearing loss, a person may simply misunderstand words. Someone with this
condition is often able to hear sounds
but is unable to make out all the
words. Have you ever been in a noisy
restaurant or at a noisy party where
there is talking, laughter and music
in the background, but you could not
understand a conversation you were
having? Do family members tell you
the TV is too loud or that you seem to
be speaking louder or expect others to
speak louder? These are some indicators that age-related hearing loss needs
to be assessed and treated.
Hearing loss can affect your life in
several ways. You may miss out on
important information from friends
and family, and at your doctor’s office,
you may miss health and wellness
information. Hearing loss does not
have to interfere with your quality of
life. Begin by revealing your symptoms to your family physician. A referring physician recognizes a licensed
audiologist who possesses certification in clinical competence (CCC-A)
is the professional who can best assess
and treat age-related hearing disorders. The audiologist is also trained to
evaluate related disorders, including
balance and vestibular disorders and
&
9
Age-related hearing
loss doesn’t have to
mar enjoyment of life
tinnitus, or ringing in the ears. The
audiologist can provide the appropriate treatment for individuals with
hearing disorders. Audiology professionals provide services in a variety of
settings, including hospitals, nursing
homes and extended-care facilities,
rehabilitation centers, private practice,
home health agencies, public and
private schools, college and university
speech-language-hearing clinics and
government facilities, including VA
medical centers. Audiologists work
closely with physicians and speechlanguage pathologists through an
interdisciplinary team approach to
provide comprehensive evaluation
and treatment services for age-related
hearing disorders.
Hearing loss can vary from person
to person, so a professional assessment to accurately identify the special
needs of a person with hearing impairment can lead to the best treatment
options. Age-related hearing loss cannot be reversed because it is caused
by the degeneration of sensory cells,
which occurs with the aging process.
However, it can be treated effectively
through the use of hearing aids and
other forms of communication technology.
Sources and Resources
National Institute on Aging (2016).
Health & Aging: Hearing Loss. Available
at: www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/
hearing-loss
About the Author
Thomas W. Miller, Ph.D., ABPP, is a professor emeritus and senior research scientist, Center for Health, Intervention and
Prevention, University of Connecticut;
retired service chief from the VA Medical
Center; and tenured professor in the
Department of Psychiatry, College of
Medicine, University of Kentucky.