2
JULY 2019
|
active ageing
HEAR now
Because our hearing ability often alters with age, we asked CHRISTOPHER DEGUARA, BSc(Hons)UK, MSc(Aud)Melit, for some ways to understand this process and to help with the symptoms. How does our hearing alter with age?
H
earing loss is a natural ageing process. It decreases our ability to hear the entire hearing frequency spectrum. Each letter and sound in our environments has a different frequency at a different level. However, this is subjective to each and every individual as a result of genetics, awareness of hearing prevention and hearing care, and incidents one encounters throughout one’s life.
What types of hearing loss might affect people as they age and what causes them? There are three types of hearing loss; 1. Sensorineural: caused by damaged cells in the Cochlea, a snail-like hearing organ converting mechanical sound waves into electrical signals and transmitting to the auditory cortex of the brain, for sound to be processed into words and environmental sounds such as the sound of an air conditioner fan. 2. Conductive hearing loss: sound waves are inhibited from reaching the Cochlea as a result of a mechanical restriction which could be caused by: • Excessive ear wax • A foreign body in the ear canal • A perforated ear drum which could be caused by inserting cotton buds or foreign objects inthe ear canal. • Reduced mobility of the three smallest bones of the body found behind the ear drum and the Cochlea. 3.Hearing loss from both sensorineural and conductive causes. Sensorineural mostly affects elderly people. However we also diagnose elderly patients with mixed hearing loss resulting from middle ear bone degeneration such as Otosclerosis.
What can be done to help prevent and delay hearing loss? As audiologists one of our main objectives is to promote awareness on prevention. It is crucial to stress how exposure to excessive noise, occupational as well as recreational, causes hearing loss. When exposure to such environments cannot be avoided it is recommended that hearing protection devices are always used. These can be also be custom made for improved
efficiency and comfort. Examples of such environmental sound areas are Listening to loud music with or without headphones Exposure to high impulse noises such as shooting or fireworks Working with power tools, machinery or on other loud noisy environments.
Are there obvious symptoms of ear/hearing problems which people should look out for and not ignore? The main symptoms will probably be observed by family members and their loved ones. These may include: Watching TV with the volume exceptionally loud The person finding discussions harder to be understand and/or mixing words which sound alike. In my experience persons with hearing loss tend to deny it until it reaches a level where their quality of life is diminished, through social isolation, from limited participation in daily social activities either recreational, occupational or voluntary.
What should people do when they become aware their hearing is not as sharp as it could be? If someone observes the effects of hearing loss in their loved ones an audiological consultation with a registered local audiologist is recommended. This gives the opportunity to assess the health status of both the right and left auditory system. More awareness is required of the necessity of such visits being part of an annual health check, especially for people over 60, so problems can be detected early. Then the habilitation process, when it comes to aiding and improving one’s hearing and understanding capabilities, which are two different physiologic processes, will also be much easier.
What are the effects of hearing loss on people as they age? Hearing loss happens so gradually that
How can we safeguard our hearing?
a person can adapt by substituting their sense of hearing with that of vision by lip reading. But this can only suffice to a certain extent. Other effects include Having the TV too loud and annoying other family members. Embarrassing situations during conversations, caused by answering questions wrongly, leading to a person not speaking or using monosyllables, without actually understanding what is being said. Being a higher risk of accidents either as a pedestrian or driver Research reveals how hearing loss and Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) is quite annoying and distressful; making someone choose to avoid social activities leading to a reduced quality of life and other health issues associated with hearing loss that include depression, social isolation, dementia, cognitive decline and falls.
Our ears need to be checked and cleaned routinely by an ENT specialist, using micro-suction technique. It is essential to protect our ears when they are exposed to water, especially while swimming or washing, as these could be a source of infection. This can be done by using customised protection devices recommended by your personal audiologist. Protection is also essential when one is exposed to loud noise. It is essential to encourage the younger generation to the use custom-made protection devices provided by an audiologist.
What can be done to improve things for people with hearing loss and where can they find help? Currently, several hearing solutions working hand in hand with modern technology can be found. We have two independent hearing systems the left and the right, similar to our vision. They function independently, but complement each other to attain one single objective. Thus, hearing loss in the left ear can be of a different level than in the right. So, like using spectacles with two different lenses, we may need to use two hearing aids ( binaural hearing aids) to support each system and programme each hearing aid as clinically indicated. Whilst the professional responsibility of the practising audiologist is to provide the appropriate hearing aid power for each individual’s hearing loss level, ultimately the level of performance is the exclusive choice of the individual. But, it is recommended that a person goes for the most appropriate level of performance, according to the needs of their daily activities, to improve their quality of life. But as a result of the social stigma of the old large banana-style hearing aids people need more support from relatives and friends to seek audiological advice on the health of their ears and the effects of hearing loss or associated comorbidities. Then they can benefit from the hearing systems technology that is available today to improve their quality of life, and that of their loved ones and care givers, by improving communication which is essential for overall care and the quality of life we all deserve. Christopher Deguara, BSc(Hons)UK, MSc(Aud)Melit.