Growing up the youngest of six children meant that my dad was in his forties when I was born. When I was a senior in high school, I was the lone child at home and typical dinners were just my mom, dad and me (and the occasional guest). I can remember lots of times when my mom would say to me, "Speak up so your father can hear you." And I would raise my voice and repeat what I had said.     

Turns out, Dad was not alone in his early hearing loss.  Normal, age related hearing loss is known as presbycusis (Greek presbys "elder" + akousis "hearing"). It is most likely to occur after the age of 60.  It is estimated that between 30% to 35% of adults over age 65 have difficulty hearing and 40 to 50% of people over the age of 75 have a hearing loss.   

So in recognition of May being National Hearing and Vision loss month, we wanted to share some information and tips with you about normal, age-related hearing loss.   

Let's HEAR it for Guardian Nurses! 

There are many causes for hearing loss. Most commonly, as we age, the production and transmission of sound deteriorates, causing gradual hearing loss. Presbycusis can also result from changes in the middle ear or from complex changes along the nerve pathways leading to the brain.  Because the process of hearing loss is gradual, and occurs in both ears affecting them equally, people who have it may not realize their hearing is diminishing.  It's often the rest of us that do!

What are the symptoms?

With presbycusis, sounds often seem less clear and lower in volume. Individuals may experience several of the following:

• The speech of others seems mumbled or slurred.
• High-pitched sounds such as "s" and "th" are difficult to hear and tell apart.
• Conversations are difficult to understand, especially when there is background noise.
• A man's voice is easier to hear than the higher pitches of a woman's voice.
• Certain sounds seem annoying or overly loud.
• Tinnitus (a ringing, roaring, or hissing sound in one or both ears) may also occur.

Excessively loud everyday noises, both at home and at work, can pose a risk to your hearing. Avoiding loud noises and reducing the amount of exposure time to everyday noises may be helpful.  When using equipment like leaf blowers or lawn mowers, ear plugs or special fluid-filled ear muffs can give protection and should be worn to help avoid possibly damaging your hearing.  

Tests to assess and diagnose hearing loss are offered by audiologists.The audiologist conducts a complete hearing evaluation and determines if a hearing aid may be useful.  If yes, tests will be conducted to find an appropriate aid, selecting one that maximizes a person's hearing and understanding of speech. Most older adults with hearing loss can benefit from using a hearing aid, although the degree of benefit may vary according to the type and amount of hearing loss.  

Assistive listening devices can provide further improvement in hearing ability in certain situations. One example is the built-in telephone amplifier which is a huge help to individuals with hearing loss.  Search "amplified phones" in Google and it produces more than 3 million results!  In addition, training in speech reading (using visual cues to determine what is being spoken) can help those with presbycusis to understand better what is being said in conversations or presentations.

Communication tips*

If you or someone you know has a hearing loss caused by presbycusis, please consider sharing these tips with family members, friends, and colleagues.

• Face the person who has a hearing loss so that he or she can see your face when you speak.
• Be sure that lighting is in front of you when you speak. This allows a person with a hearing impairment to observe facial expressions, gestures, and lip and body movements that provide communication clues.
• During conversations, turn off the radio or television.
• Avoid speaking while chewing food or covering your mouth with your hands.
• Speak slightly louder than normal, but don't shout. Shouting may distort your speech.
• Speak at your normal rate, and do not exaggerate sounds.
• Clue the person with the hearing loss about the topic of the conversation whenever possible.
• Rephrase your statement into shorter, simpler sentences if it appears you are not being understood.
• In restaurants and social gatherings, choose seats or conversation areas away from crowded or noisy areas.