You expect specific things as your loved ones grow older: Hair changing colors, needing glasses, stories about “When I was your age”. Another change commonly associated with aging is hearing loss. There are many reasons why this happens: Exposure to loud noises (whether job-related or from a youth spent at rock concerts), medications that cause damage to structures inside of the ear (some kinds of chemotherapy, for example, have this side effect), or merely changes to the inner ear.
But you can’t simply dismiss the hearing impairment of an older friend or relative just because you expected it would occur. Particularly because age-related hearing trouble can be elusive, it happens gradually and over time, not abruptly and noticeably, you might work around it by simply speaking more clearly or turning up the volume. So here are four primary reasons you should take hearing loss seriously, and talk to your loved one about ways to address it.
1. Unnecessary Hazard is Created by Hearing Loss
In a bigger building, smoke or fire alarms have a visual element (commonly a flashing light) in addition to being very loud, but most residential alarms do not. Individuals who suffer from hearing loss can lose other less severe day-to-day cues also: Receiving a phone call, a delivery person ringing the doorbell, or (and yes, we’re back in likely very hazardous territory here) car horns. A reduced ability to react to auditory cues can lead to minor inconveniences or significant risks.
2. There Can be an Increase in Cognitive Decline With Hearing Loss
A large meta-study revealed that age-related hearing loss had a statistically significant connection with cognitive decline and dementia. What the relationship exactly is, is debated, but withdrawal from social activity which results in a reduced level of involvement and less stimulation for the brain is a leading idea. Another prominent theory is that the brain has to work harder to try and fill in the missing auditory stimulus that’s lost with hearing loss, leaving less resources for mental function.
3. Hearing Loss Can be Costly
If your loved one is concerned that treating hearing issues could be costly, here’s a strong counter-argument: Studies have found that, for a number of reasons, untreated hearing loss can hurt your wallet. For example, research from 2016 that looked at health care expenses for a sample of 55- to 64-year-old adults found that individuals who suffered from untreated hearing loss spent, on average, 33% more on doctor’s bills. Why? One of the study’s writers speculated that individuals who suffer with hearing loss may avoid preventative care because of trouble communicating and thus wind up with a large bill because a major health issue wasn’t caught earlier. Hearing loss is also linked to mental decline and numerous health problems, as other individuals have noted. And if all that’s not enough think about this: For individuals who haven’t retired, hearing loss is connected to decreased work productivity, potentially having an immediate impact on your paycheck.
4. Hearing Impairment is Connected to Depression
Trouble hearing can have emotional and mental health repercussions, too. The anxiety and stress of not being able to hear others clearly will often cause detachment and isolation. Particularly among elderly people, a lack of social engagement is linked to negative mental (and physical) health repercussions. The good news: Managing hearing loss can potentially help alleviate depression, partly because being able to hear makes social engagement less anxiety-provoking. People who wear hearing aids to manage hearing loss show fewer symptoms of depression and are more socially active according to a study done by the National Council on Aging.
How You Can Help
Communicate! We mean yes, talk to your loved one about hearing loss, and keep the conversation moving. This can help you assess the degree of hearing loss by providing a second set of ears and it also furthers cognitive engagement. People over 70 with hearing impairment commonly under-report it, though the reasons why are currently debated. Secondly, encourage your friend or relative to come see us. Regular, professional hearing assessments are important for providing a baseline and learning how their hearing may be changing.
