Communication is an essential part of our lives and hearing is crucial for good communication. When hearing begins to falter, the effects can be varied and wide spread. The obvious of course, would be an inability to have successful conversations. Speaking to family and loved ones can become strained and even burdensome at times. Telephone calls can be a source of frustration or even anxiety. Personal relationships can suffer and social interaction can decline. Hearing loss can have an impact on almost all aspects of an individual’s ability to function successfully.
Hearing loss is a frequent component of the aging process. In fact, it is the third most common chronic condition of older adults. The loss of hearing as a result of aging is known as presbyacusis. While the actual number of older person’s with hearing loss is debatable, estimates range from 25% to over 60% of the population. Those who suffer from presbyacusis present with what is known as a sensori-neural hearing loss, one that affects the function of the inner ear, more specifically the cochlear or organ of hearing. The level of hearing loss can differ significantly from person to person. Some individuals can hear low pitch sounds better than high pitched sounds while others may have trouble hearing all pitches.
Older adults tend to live with hearing loss for many years before they begin to seek help. The main reason for this is that the loss generally has a gradual onset and the individual waits until it progresses to the point where it has a significant impact on independent functioning. Sometimes it is not until a person is urged by family or friends that they begin to seek help for their problems with hearing. Never the less, once the individual makes that decision, there are many options available to them.