Health and Wellness: Steps to better hearing

By Dr. MELISSA PALMER

About 48 million Americans of all ages experience hearing loss, including 1 in 6 baby boomers.

Ignoring hearing loss can have a serious impact on your overall health and quality of life. If you or someone in your life suffers from hearing loss, this could lead to frustration in communicating with family members, friends and co-workers.

It can lead to difficulty understanding others at home, in the car, at work, in restaurants or in other social settings. Hearing loss typically occurs gradually over time, requiring the need for louder TV volume or closed captioning, the need for visual cues while facing the speaker and can cause avoidance of situations that are difficult for communication.

This can lead people with hearing loss to experience fatigue, social isolation, depression and can also lead to higher risk for cognitive decline.

Signs That You May Need A Hearing Test

• Do you have arguments over whether you misheard someone?

• Do you have to constantly ask people to repeat themselves?

• Do other people complain that you have the TV or radio too loud?

• Has someone suggested you go for a hearing test?

• Are you straining to hear others at parties, in meetings or other groups?

• Do you have trouble hearing on the phone?

• Do you have trouble hearing conversations in noisy environments?

If you answered yes to several of the questions above, you should have your hearing evaluated.

Steps To Better Hearing

• The first step to better hearing is to obtain a comprehensive hearing evaluation to determine the type and degree of hearing loss present in each ear.

• Work with an audiologist who can develop a personalized treatment plan to improve overall hearing and communication concerns.

• Consistent use of properly fitted hearing aid technology to improve the ability to hear important environmental sounds and speech.

• Use of communication strategies to be implemented by the listener with hearing loss as well as their communication partners to maximize the function of the hearing aid technology.

• Use of auditory training programs when appropriate, which are designed to improve listening skills and speech understanding.

• Use of hearing protection when exposed to excessive noise levels at work, recreation, or lawn care to prevent further hearing loss.

It is important to remember that there is a multi-step approach to treating hearing loss. Hearing aid technology will not be as effective if not appropriately fit to your specific hearing thresholds and communication needs.

In addition, hearing aid technology will not be maximized without the use of effective communication strategies and controlling your environment. This is important for both the speaker and the listener.

Communication is a two-way street, so be sure to get the attention of who you are speaking with prior to talking. Remember that there is a difference between hearing and listening. As the listener, one must learn to use effective listening strategies to receive the message successfully.

Dr. Melissa Palmer is the owner of Clayton Audiology, and has been practicing audiology since 1996. Clayton Audiology’s mission is to help people regain confidence in their ability to hear and communicate effectively with their loved ones, friends and co-workers. Learn more at claytonaudiology.com.