Last Sunday my mother was visiting. We were playing cards
when I began to realize how long we have accommodated her
hearing loss.

My mother lost the hearing in her right ear as a teenager.
As children we learned to always talk to her left ear,
have the radio off when she was driving, wait for
the TV commercial and lower the volume before speaking.

We had many a laugh when after calling my mother she would
walk to another room or the other end of the house
thinking the voice came from that direction. Mom laughed
with us MOST of the time.

When my nursing career led me to the field of
Geriatrics I automatically knew how to communicate
with people with hearing loss.

Twenty eight million people suffer from hearing loss.

Ages 65-74-- 23% have hearing loss.

Ages 75 84-- -33% have hearing loss.

ages 85+ ---- 48% have hearing loss.

Most older people with hearing loss never see an audiologist
nor do they get fitted for hearing aids. It amazes me that so few
are willing to get help.
Hearing loss has a very gradual onset, frequently not noticed by
the person himself. Usually it is the spouse that raises the
possibility of hearing loss.

Most doctors do not test for hearing loss as part of a
routine physical and for some unknown reason, most older
people will not complain of their hearing loss.
Denial is very strong when the topic is hearing loss.

As people age the hearing sense does decline in many folks.

This presents many problems:

Unable to hear emergency sirens, fire alarms, honking horns

Often develop depression over time due to an inability to
hear conversations.

Often withdraw from social gatherings and isolate themselves.

Often develop paranoia, thinking people are talking
about them since they are only able to pick up occasional words.

Often become irritable as they isolate.

These symptoms are very common among the frail elderly, especially
when in group activities such as sitting at a table playing cards, or eating.

Communicating With Elders with Hearing Loss

Face the person- within three feet.

Sit at eye level.

Get eye contact.

Be sure you have their attention.

Turn off any background noises-TV, Radio.

Announce the topic of the conversation.

Enunciate clearly.

Do not eat or chew when communicating.

If not understood, rephrase your statement using different words.

Use hand gestures as needed.

Talk to the good ear if appropriate.

Make sure your elder sees a doctor for hearing
difficulty. Ask for a referral to an audiologist.

Dedicated to Eldercare,

Nurse Alice