Hearing Loss Treatment: Options for Seniors to Improve Hearing
According to the CDC, around 15% of American adults have some trouble hearing. Considering that our hearing only gets worse as we age, there's a very high chance that you're experiencing hearing loss yourself as a senior. Whether it's minor or severe, it may be having an adverse effect.
Knowing more about it can equip you with the right tools to find the right hearing loss treatment though, and this can improve your daily life. So, before it gets worse, learn about hearing loss and its solutions. That way, you can seek the best treatment for hearing restoration if possible.
The Causes of Hearing Loss
To know what solutions to use, you have to first learn the causes of hearing loss. From there, you can determine which treatment is appropriate.
The most common causes of hearing loss include:
- Presbycusis: This is age-related hearing loss and happens slowly, typically in both ears
- Noise-induced hearing loss: The inner ear becomes damaged due to loud noises (usually over a long period of time)
- Infections: Chronic ear infections and fluid buildup can cause hearing issues
- Medical conditions: Diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular diseases can increase your risk of hearing loss
- Ototoxic medications: Certain antibiotics, pain relievers, chemotherapy drugs, and more can harm hearing
Do note that it's possible to have more than one cause of hearing loss. For example, you may experience presbycusis as you get older, but also have accelerated hearing loss from ototoxic medications you take.
The Types of Hearing Loss
Not only are there different causes of hearing loss, but there are also different types. The two main ones are sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and conductive hearing loss.
SNHL happens when there's damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve. Because of this, it's usually irreversible, but treatable.
Conductive hearing loss occurs when there are blockages or structural issues in your outer or middle ear. This type may be treatable with medical intervention.
You can also have a mix of both types. As you might've guessed, this requires multiple approaches to treat effectively.
Hearing Loss Solutions
With proper senior auditory care, you can either reverse hearing loss or find solutions that improve your quality of life. Let's take a look at what's available and what you should seek out.
Hearing Aids
People are most familiar with hearing aids as a hearing loss solution. Not only can your doctor write you a prescription, but there are also over-the-counter options too.
The typical hearing aid either sits behind the ear (BTE) or in the ear (ITE). The former has a tube connecting to an ear mold and it's suitable for moderate to severe hearing loss. The latter fits in the outer ear, making it easier to handle; it's suitable for mild to moderate hearing loss.
If you want something more discreet for hearing aid options, consider receiver-in-canal (RIC) or receiver-in-ear (RITE) devices. They're small and suitable for various levels of hearing loss, making them a good treatment for age-related hearing loss.
An even more discreet solution is completely-in-canal (CIC) or invisible-in-canal (IIC) devices. However, they're not suitable for severe hearing loss.
Cochlear Implants
Those who aren't able to use hearing aids can turn to cochlear implants instead. With these, the auditory nerve is directly stimulated, which results in you perceiving sound.
Cochlear implants are surgically implanted, though, which means you'll have to go through surgery. Not only that, but there's a recovery period afterward, too.
Due to the surgery and aftercare, cochlear implants are much more expensive than hearing aids.
Assistive Listening Devices
Assistive listening devices (ALDs) are used in both private and public situations, which make them great as fall prevention measures.
You can get personal amplifiers to use whenever you wish, as well as wireless headphones and sound amplifiers for your TVs. In addition, there are captioned phones available that display spoken words as text.
In public spaces, you have hearing loop systems. This makes events more inclusive.
As you can see, ALDs are used for specific situations, making them less versatile. However, when they're offered in the spaces you go, they can make a world of difference.
Medical Treatments
There are several medical treatments you can get for hearing loss, depending on what's causing it.
For some, they may simply have blocked ear canals due to earwax. All they'll need to do is go through an earwax removal procedure to regain their hearing.
If you've realized that you're on ototoxic medications, then speak to your doctor about possible alternatives. Or if you have a current infection or inflammation, they can prescribe antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs to treat temporary hearing loss.
Lastly, those with conductive hearing loss have surgical options. You can get your eardrum repaired (tympanoplasty) or go through a stapedectomy to treat otosclerosis (hearing loss caused by the stape, which is a bone in your middle ear).
Make Lifestyle Changes
There's only so much you can do with hearing loss solutions; you have to also learn how to live with it and make the most of your life.
You can start by making lifestyle changes that protect your hearing. Don't listen to things on high volume, and use earplugs if you have to be in a noisy environment.
Plus, have your loved ones make changes to make their communication more hearing-friendly. Here are some quick tips:
- Face you while speaking
- Speak slowly and clearly
- Reduce background noise
- Use text-based communication
You may also want to consider assisted living in Des Moines. This will put you in a supportive environment where your hearing loss and other health issues are accommodated compassionately.
Seek Hearing Loss Treatment
Dealing with a dampened auditory world can be difficult, but there's hope, as hearing loss treatment is possible.
Considering that there are so many solutions available for the different types of hearing loss, it's important to speak to your doctor. Together, you can figure out the best treatment for your situation.
Get in touch with us now if you want to move into an assisted living community. Addington Place of Des Moines has a caring team and spacious apartments.