Mom (94) lives with us. She’s in beginning stage of Alz. Her hearing is horrible and the TV volume is becoming a problem. Advice?

I bought a sound amplifier for my mom, as she refused to acknowledge that her hearing was getting worse. I finally told her that I couldn't have a reasonable conversation with her when I was shouting--it made me too tense.
The one I bought on Amazon has just an on/off button and a thumbwheel for volume. I bought her an inexpensive wired headset to replace the earbuds that came with the amplifier--they were getting too tangled. Also it's harder to misplace a headset.
She also has an ipad that she uses to watch videos and listen to music, and it has an outlet that accepts the headphone jack (some don't).
A wireless headset would work too, but I was concerned that it would be too 'new technology' for her. The headset is more familiar.

i definitely have some advice.

hugs!!

1. i know someone who had terrible hearing (A). hearing aid man (B) said that A can’t hear high frequencies well (like women’s voices, phone ringing, etc.). A got hearing aids.

at some point, a lot of wax appeared. hearing aids will produce a lot of wax.

B suggested ear drops to get rid of the wax.

I noticed the hearing was getting worse and worse. I told B a few days ago, let’s change strategy! let’s go to the doctor, get the wax removed! i think the ear drops are creating more wax! humid ears, etc.

B was worried that flushing out the wax with warm water/syringe might damage the ears. too much water pressure can for example, damage the eardrums.

i did some research.
there’s a new/safe technique to remove wax:
micro aspiration.

i sent A to an ear doctor.
micro aspiration.
waxed removed.

incredible result!!!
A’s hearing is really very good, without hearing aids!

there was simply A LOT of wax in the ears.

A might still need hearing aids. but A’s hearing is now incredible: just natural hearing.

the point is:
try micro aspiration.
get rid of the wax.

see if your loved one hears better.

2. hearing and the brain (memory ability/cognitive skills/dementia) are often totally linked.

so try to protect the hearing.

better hearing = better brain.

wishing us all well :).

bundle of joy

Recent studies have linked hearing loss as a risk factor for dementia. Because your mom already has AD, her hearing will probably worsen and require a louder and louder volume. But hearing is one thing, UNDERSTANDING what is heard is completely different. Increasing (amplifying) the volume may not increase understanding but only louden the mumbling. For some people, increasing volume may help in understanding, in others it won't. Hearing aids compensate for certain frequency deficiencies to allow someone to understand. Even if hearing aids are the answer, they're prohibitively pricey. If your mom has Medicaid, call the office, they may have suggestions. Her PCP along with your sales skills may help her to consider hearing aids.

I bought wireless speakers. Set one right next to her. She does not have to operate them, just set the speaker volume for her. Worked for me!

She can wear wireless headphones but you need to enable the tv to do this (or have a newer tv). At her age hearing aids are too expensive and too tiny to be easily handled and also not get lost or hidden. There are such things as Personal Sound Amplifiers she can use:

https://dailycaring.com/affordable-hearing-aid-alternatives-for-seniors-hearing-amplifiers