Home Care Assistance: Hearing loss affects a large number of older Americans to varying degrees.
Hearing loss affects more than half of all Americans over the age of 75. Hearing difficulties can have a detrimental impact on a person’s quality of life and cause relationship problems. Fortunately, if you follow some of the methods outlined in this article, you won’t have to live with a newfound hearing loss for the rest of your life. Although there is no one-size-fits-all solution for dealing with hearing loss, you or your Home Care Assistance provider should use the ones that best suit your needs and tweak the others as needed.
Before we get into these crucial steps, keep in mind that hearing loss is not always straightforward to diagnose, especially in the elderly. Hearing loss in the elderly is not often rapid and sudden. Rather, it develops gradually over time. Because of the delayed onset, many people are unaware of their own hearing loss. Relatives may also have difficulty detecting hearing loss. Hearing problems are sometimes misdiagnosed as cognitive deterioration. This is because people would often disengage from a conversation if they do not hear what others are saying.
Hearing loss is something that many people will face in life, and it is something you may become frustrated with. The important thing is to remain calm and speak clearly to the older adult. Home care assistance is individuals who are trained to help a senior live on their own. If you have not yet thought about providing home care assistance to your loved one, now may be a good time. This allows them time to develop a relationship and communication style that will work around the hearing loss. Here are some things to keep in mind and tips that may help.
Understand and Be Aware
Understanding what the signs of hearing loss are will help you be more aware of the problem. If you start noticing them not understanding you or regularly turning up the TV to hear better these are all small signs that their hearing is becoming worse. Some seniors may find that they cannot hear well when there is a lot of background noise which can also be one of the first signs of hearing loss. You can encourage them to talk to their doctors about this.
Understand It Can Be Psychological
Yes, hearing loss is a physical response and happens as someone ages but it can also have psychological impacts on a senior. You need to understand that when your parents can no longer hear you they may feel lonely and it may make them sad. When they can no longer engage with you it can leave them feeling very alone and unable to connect with others.
Home Care Assistance: Understand The Cost
Not every senior will have the option to get hearing aids because they are very pricey. Seniors may be afraid to splurge on such a large expense. Not all insurance will cover the cost of hearing aids or equipment. You should be understanding of why your parents may not be able to get a hearing aid even if they need one.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care Assistance in Phoenix, AZ, please contact the caring staff at Home Care Resources at (602) 443-4700
Sources:
https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing
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