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| The Effects of Hearing Loss on Seniors |
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Caring for Elders with Hearing Loss Linda Slota, Director Webster Senior Center Keeping your loved ones safe and independent can be difficult when deafness or hearing loss is present. It is our goal to provide you with the best information and support possible so you and your loved one can rest easier. In the year 2000, the number of people 65 or older in Massachusetts was 860,162. Since the incidence of hearing loss in this population is approximately 60%, the number of seniors with hearing loss in the state of Massachusetts is estimated to be more than half a million people. Impact of Hearing Loss Hearing loss is a severe disability that affects everyone who is living with it, regardless of gender, race or age. It affects our basic ability to communicate and interact with one another; the effects are even more pronounced for seniors who may already be at risk because of ill health, infirmity, and a variety of other age related factors. Hearing aids, while very helpful to many, may not be sufficient to address all of the issues that arise when a severe hearing loss is diagnosed. Often, the expense of hearing aids is a significant obstacle, particularly to seniors living on a fixed income. It has been estimated that less than 10% of peope who could benefit from hearing aids actually have them. Caregiving Caregiving is already a stressful and demanding task. When the caregiver or care recipient has a hearing loss, it becomes much more so. Besides communication breakdowns, one of the most challenging aspects of providing care for an elder with hearing loss is the relative inaccessibility of audible communication, alarm and alterting devices commonly used in the home. A simple task like calling home to check on the family member becomes impossible if he or she cannot hear the telephone ring - or understand what is being said. Likewise, a fire alarm that goes off without being heard is useless, as is a doorbell that no one reponds to. Far from being a simple inconvenience, the inability to hear these and other audible alerts can literally become a matter of life or death. It can also severely limit the effectiveness of third party services such as homemakers and visiting nurses. The good news is that there is an abundance of available technology that can address these issues, and promote continued independence in one's home. Sample Questions Often, people do not know how much they are missing, so simply asking these questions may be ineffective. Massachusetts Commission For the Deaf and Hard of Hearing recommends testing under real world conditions to obtain accurate answers. Both with and without a hearing aid, can your family member effectively:
MCDHH carries an extensive selection of assistive listening and alerting devices for demonstration We can also help with information on other devices and services, such as automated response systems, active and passive monitoring, self-dialing telephones, accessible weather radios and more. Technology Demonstration Center Open to the public by prior appointment, our new center (demonstation only; no sales) has a broad variety of equipment and information to help family caregivers and others discover the many possibilities that exist for lving with hearing loss. Please contact: Debra Lobsitz, Information and Referral Specialist at (617) 740-1668 voice, (617)740-1768 TTY, or Debra.Lobsitz@state.ma.us
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