Hearing devices can improve quality of life

Last week we began a discussion of hearing loss and I would like to continue with this important topic today. An estimated 28 million Americans suffer from hearing loss and 15 million baby boomers are having trouble hearing. This number will rise as the baby boomer generation increases in number with these individuals struggling to understand phone conversations, carry on conversations in a crowded room, clearly understand the lines in movies and on television and begin to miss the full range of musical notes at symphonies and other musical events.

In addition to the above difficulties, psychological problems can arise as a result of hearing loss. Feelings of frustration appear by the individual experiencing hearing loss and those around him are also troubled by the effort it takes to make him understand them. Feelings of sadness are also evident as a result of the loss experienced by the hearing impaired. Stress results because the individual has to work harder to understand conversations, movies, conversations in crowded places and spoken messages such as sermons in church.

There are many devices now available to assist the hearing impaired. But unfortunately, many hearing sufferers do not avail themselves to these technological appliances. Some of the reasons given are:

• Price. A whole range of instruments and prices exist and most recently, disposable hearing aids have become available so that the cost of getting started is relatively inexpensive. Many professionals dispensing hearing aids have payment plans, discounts and other remedies that make the purchase of hearing aids possible.

• Denial, the stigma of hearing loss, and cosmetic concerns. Many individuals simply don’t want to admit they have a hearing deficit but these same people often have no difficulty in admitting they need eyeglasses. Many associate hearing loss with old age and the baby boomers in particular, are redefining the whole concept of aging. Also, many individuals fear that hearing aids will detract from their appearance. There are now devices available which fit completely in the ear canal and are essentially not visible.

• Many individuals lose their hearing gradually and over time they forget what good hearing is like. The summer sounds of tree frogs in the evening, the songs of birds, the high notes in a symphony and the words spoken by grandchildren are priceless experiences which many hearing sufferers have “forgotten” exist. Since they don’t know what their missing they don’t consider getting assistance.

Hearing specialists also recommend techniques to assist the speaker and listener such as reducing the distance between them when communicating, allowing the listener to have full view of the speakers lips so that both visual and auditory cues are available, avoiding background noises such as air conditioning, fans and television, and speaking more slowly and enunciating words clearly.

An excellent resource for those experiencing hearing loss is A Quiet World: Living With Hearing Loss by David G. Myers. Yale University Press, 2000.

Giant strides are being made in hearing improvement and I will return to this important topic in the future.