Did you know that May is Better Hearing and Speech Month? Hearing is one of those things we tend to take for granted until we start to lose it.
Yet it’s a fantastic ability that we have to help process the world around us. Here are some facts about hearing and older adults to keep in mind this month:
- According to the National Institute on Aging, about 1 in 3 people between ages 65 to 74 have some hearing loss.
- The NIA reports that about 50% of those over age 75 have some hearing loss.
- Hearing loss isn’t caused only by aging. It also is associated with genetics, noise exposure, and disease. For instance, if you have diabetes, you have a greater chance of hearing loss.
- Hearing loss can lead to a spiral of depression and dementia. A person with hearing loss may become depressed because they can’t communicate as well with others. A loss of hearing can lead to a decline in cognitive skills like memory and concentration.
5 Tips to Preserve Your Hearing
While hearing loss is more common with age, you should still do what you can to preserve your hearing for the long term. Here are five tips to help maintain your hearing or the hearing of the senior loved one in your life.
- Get regular health checks. Good hearing isn’t just about your ears. Your hearing is affected by other health measures in your body, including your blood pressure and blood sugar. Do your best to stay healthy overall. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, work with your health care team to keep it under control.
- Try to avoid loud noises. Wear ear protection if you know you’ll get exposed to loud noises, be it a concert or in a work environment.
- Take changes to your ear health seriously. Some signs you should see a doctor or an audiologist for your aural health include ringing in the ears, pain, or an unexpected change in how your ear in one or both ears.
- Watch the volume. It’s so easy to crank up the volume with electronic devices or the TV. However, too much exposure to loud noise can damage your hearing. If you find you need to turn up the volume to hear these devices, let your doctor or an audiologist know.
- Listen to your loved ones if they say you should get your hearing checked. Often, your loved ones will realize you need your hearing checked before you do. The earlier you can get a problem checked out, the better your hearing will fare in the long term.
Call Secure Aging to Find Out How We Can Help Seniors With Care Management
At Secure Aging in Bradenton, we transform the weight of the world into a sigh of relief for our senior clients and their concerned family members. The mission of Secure Aging is to protect and preserve our client’s independence and dignity through careful and thoughtful financial and care management. As our clients age, it is their desire to remain independent and age with dignity. Our services protect our clients from talented con artists looking to exploit and deplete the financial resources of our vulnerable seniors. Secure Aging helps families in Manatee County and Sarasota County and in and around the communities of Anna Maria, Bradenton, Bradenton Beach, Ellenton, Holmes Beach, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat Key, Myakka City, Palmetto, Parrish, and Sarasota. Call us at 941-761-9338, or visit us online at www.secureaging.com.
