How Can I Help An Elder With Hearing Loss

It is a pity that elders with hearing loss miss on natural and telephonic conversation with ones near and dear; they could also miss on important instructions given by a doctor. Difficulty of hearing could make elders feel embarrassed and upset, with some assuming that the elder is confused, uncaring or difficult.

We could help our beloved elder with hearing loss by speaking clearly at a reasonable pace facing him; it would help further to avoid hiding your mouth while speaking. Stand in good light and eliminate background sounds; ensure that you have clear facial expressions and gestures that give useful clues. Repeating what you said in different words would also help the elder with hearing loss.

Remove the loneliness and embarrassment of the elder with including him in all conversations and talk to him directly; be positive, relaxed, patient and ready to help him.  

Devices and treatments that would help to overcome hearing loss:

Hearing aids: Hearing aids, the small devices that elders wear behind their ears amplify the sound and help elders hear more clearly. However they could help in only certain types of hearing defects; hearing aids pick up background sounds of traffic or people talking when used in crowded places.

An ENT specialist after a thorough examination would refer you to an audiologist; an audiologist would be the best person to suggest a suitable hearing aid to the elder. While buying a hearing aid for an elder ensure that the dealer of the hearing aid has the skill and patience to help the elder in the first few months of use.

The elder may need to have several fittings of the hearing aid and be given clear instructions regarding its use like maintenance and repairs.  Also the elder will have to go in for a hearing aid with the required features and also understand how to change the batteries from time to time.

Assistive/adaptive devices: These are products that help you live with less than perfect hearing; these include telephone amplifying devices, TV and radio listening systems and alerts like doorbells, smoke detectors and alarm clocks that give vibrations and flash lights that elders recognizes as signals. 

Telephone amplifying devices makes sounds louder to special phones that work with hearing aids, while TV and radio listening systems can be used with or without hearing aids, with the volume not being very high. Alerts such as doorbells, smoke detectors, and alarm clocks give you a signal through a vibration or a flashing light.

Some of these assistive listening devices are also available in public places like movie theaters, churches, auditoriums, synagogues, and meeting places.

Cochlear implants: In more severe deafness, a specialist could suggest cochlear implants; the doctor implants a small electronic device under the skin behind the ear that sends messages past the non-working part of the inner ear on to the brain. These implants are not helpful for all types of deafness or hearing loss.

Your elder would sure be helped to live with his hearing loss.