HEARING LOSS IN ELDERLY: WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

 By: Lydia Farhana Binti Mustafar | Audiologist KPJ Penang Specialist Hospital

The World Health Organization (2013) estimates that about 33% of adults older than 65 years old suffer from disabling hearing loss. The term used for hearing loss due to the ageing factor is called presbycusis. 

The loss associated with presbycusis is usually greater for high-pitched sounds. For example, it may be difficult for someone to hear the voice of his wife or the ringing of a telephone. However, the same person may be able to hear clearly the low-pitched sound of a lorry rumbling down the street.

HOW HEARING LOSS IS DETECTED? 

The first thing that we notice about our parents is they can’t hear well when we talk to them. They would ask us to repeat our conversation all over again and then they can reply to it. Sometimes, they reply with a louder voice as they might think that their voice is too soft for us to hear. 

Have you ever wondered why our parents used to increase the volume of television? It is because the sound is too soft for them and the speech might be a little bit mumbling. Also, we as their children have to pay attention when they said that they hear ringing sound, cricket sound or humming sound like when we are in the forest. These sounds may be a sign of having hearing loss. 

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY PARENTS HAVE HEARING LOSS?

There might be a situation when our parents do not want to get a checkup and just live with it. So, as their son/daughter what should we do? First, when we are having a conversation with them, talk at a slow pace and face them. It is the most basic thing that we can and have to do. It is very crucial as they want to lip read and try to figure out what we are talking about. Talk in a louder voice but not shouting, so that they can hear clearer.

Therefore, to confirm the level and type of hearing loss suffered by your parents, bring them to Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist for further checkup. The ENTs will refer to the audiologist for hearing assessment. 

HOW HEARING ASSESSMENT IS CONDUCTED?

Firstly, the audiologist will take full history taking and ask about the hearing status, medical statuses like the history of diabetes or hypertension, working experience whether having been working in a noisy environment or not and also any ear problem like ear pain or ear discharge. Then, the audiologist will check the ear canal and eardrum by otoscopic examination. 

Usually, an assessment called pure tone audiometry will be done by put up headphones on the ears and they will hear series of ‘beep’ sound. They have to respond once they heard the sound either it is loud or soft. From the response, audiologist will plot a graph named audiogram that will show the type and level of hearing loss. If the hearing loss is due to middle ear problems like infection or otitis media, audiologist will refer to ENT specialist first. If there is no middle ear problem, the audiologist might suggest hearing aids as one of the treatment. 

WHAT KIND OF HEARING AID IS SUITABLE FOR MY PARENTS? 

There are many kinds of hearing aids. Most people want to have smaller and even invisible hearing aids. However, hearing aids prescribed by audiologist are chosen according to the type and level of hearing loss. Audiologist can’t simply give the hearing aids according to patients’ preferences like the type of hearing aids requested may not suitable for their hearing loss. Worst, the hearing aids may not even benefit the patients as they might hear there are noisy sounds coming from the hearing aids. Thus, it is advisable for the elderly to get a hearing aid that is suitable for their hearing loss like a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid. 

This is because most BTEs cover a wider range of hearing loss which is from mild to profound hearing loss. In fact, the BTEs are bigger in size which is suitable for the elderly that have dexterity problems. On the other hand, if your parents are tech-savvy, they can go for rechargeable hearing aids instead of hearing aids that use disposable batteries. Most rechargeable hearing aids also have Bluetooth connectivity and are made for both Android and iOs users.

They can download the apps and all features needed are in the apps. They can control the loudness of the hearing aids if they think the environment is too loud, listening to country songs from their phone playlist or even check the status of hearing aids batteries by looking at the interface of the app.

Nevertheless, bear in mind that hearing aids do not revive hearing loss. Hearing aids functioned to amplify the environment sound, increase the intelligibility of speech and help to hear in various situation. Your parents might think that the hearing aids is too loud at the first moment they try the hearing aids. Sometimes, they would report that they hear our voice louder but they can’t understand the speech that we speak. This is because their brain uses to feel ‘silent’ and lose the memory of certain sounds. However, after they wear the hearing aids, the brain perceived it as ‘loud’ and the loss ‘puzzles of sound’ start to reassemble.

Audiologist plays an important role in fitting the hearing aids and adjusting the volume control of the hearing aids. The audiologist will adjust the loudness of hearing aids appropriate to the hearing loss and needs. That is also the main reason why hearing aids cannot absolutely be bought online. There are thousands of hearing aids are sold on online platform at a much cheaper price but yet the quality is questionable. 

How would the hearing aids fit the hearing loss of your parents? How would the seller know what are the level of hearing loss without even being diagnosed in the first place? Remember, hearing aids are to be prescribed by audiologist. A hearing test would be done at the first place and hearing aids are prescribed based on the hearing loss. Yes, the price for hearing aids starts from RM1800 and above. But, the difference in its quality is huge compared to online-purchased hearing aids. 

WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN MY PARENTS ARE ALREADY WEARING HEARING AIDS? 

First, ensure that the hearing aids are worn properly and it is turn on. Check whether the battery is functioning or not by using the battery tester. Also, take care of the cleanliness of the hearing aid by wiping the earmould with a tissue or alcohol swab. Ensure that the hearing aids are kept safely in their container filled with air dehumidifier every night to prevent moisture trapped in the hearing aids. Last but not least, bring your parents to see audiologist for hearing aid follow up at least every six months. 

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

Have you ever wondered about people who were born blind? They can’t appreciate the colours of the rainbow, the beauty of the sky, the people they love because all they see is ‘black’. Or have you ever wondered how COVID-19 patients lose their sense of taste due to the virus that they got. They can’t appreciate the sweetness of the chocolate, the saltiness of fried noodles as they suffered from the illness. All they could taste was bland. Thus, this same goes for the sense of hearing, if they lose the sense of hearing, all they could hear is only ‘silent'. To hear our parents communicate and laugh together with us or their grandchildren is our ultimate goal. Bring your parents for a hearing checkup and get it treated.