Presbycusis - Hearing Loss in Old People

"Give every day the chance to become the most beautiful day of your life."

Mark Twain

Since I operate on more than one platform, I think it would be fine if I bring what I shared a few days ago on Hive here so we can all learn and benefit from it too. I spoke about hearing loss in old people and I used my paternal grandmother as a case study. 

I didn't notice it when I used to call Granny from school and when she picked up the call, I would have said ten “hello mama” before she spoke and I saw I used to shout on top of my voice for her to hear me. I still didn't realize what the problem was but I was made to understand that as people grow old, they start developing hearing loss and would not hear clearly unless you speak out loud or move close to them to make gestures and facial expressions. 

I got home and discovered she can´t hear clearly anymore especially when you speak silently, unlike before in the past years, mama can easily hear from a distance but now she is old and over 90 plus. 

I was pushed to do research on why old people have hearing loss as they keep growing into old age and this is what I found out. 

Hearing loss is a very common problem and its causes are heredity, aging and noise around. Disease can also cause hearing loss. Old people who have hearing loss have difficulty with having conversations with people- family and friends.

Some health conditions in older people can also contribute to hearing loss. Health conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

One thing I didn't make known in my post on hive is that I observe that this hearing loss is hereditary because it is affecting my Dad and Uncle too. Also when old people have health conditions like diabetes. I remembered when my sister who had lived with her since she was three years old said mama had had diabetes for many years and I was surprised to see how healthy she is and taking her medication till now.

This made me believe that poverty is a disease and can kill. My mom had diabetes too but she died when she had no one to care for her. Dad knew she had diabetes but kept mute to his family. Perhaps they would treat her, and also my mom didn't speak out. When my sister was explaining things to me, my eyes were opened but I wouldn't want to blame anybody because the deed has been done. The dead have gone. 

I knew the diabetes mama has contributed to her not being able to hear clearly as before. Older people who tend to have hearing loss may become depressed or may withdraw from others because they feel sad and frustrated about not understanding what they are saying. I don't think she is depressed because many times, she is seen sleeping and would most times, come to the sitting room to receive fresh air and I could notice she wants to keep talking but we just have to stay with her and communicate in a way she would get what we are saying.

The signs of hearing loss which I have observed in her are;

One of the signs is that she finds it difficult hearing over the telephone. Just like I said above, I will shout on top of my voice for mama to hear me clearly, and not only me, with others who call her or she calls. I have always been frustrated on phone when talking to her and would have someone speak on her behalf while they relate with her later.  So, whenever she is talking on the phone, one of us will be by her side so that we can communicate to her whatever is being said on the other end so that the other person won't be frustrated since they can't understand what is going on. Most times mama will not pick her calls when it rings because she knows she won't hear anything even if they hear her talk. 

They find it hard to follow conversations when two or more people are talking. This is another hardest part of Grandma as she is always lonely when two or more people are gathered and not hearing them is a problem to her. She prefers those people speaking louder.

Often ask people to repeat what they are saying. I have to repeat words over and over and over again just for grandma to get what I am saying. In fact, when I want to speak to her, I face her, and with expressions, communicate with her.

There are two types of hearing loss in older people. The first is Sensorineural hearing loss which is the hearing loss that occurs when the inner ear or auditory nerve is damaged and it is usually a permanent hearing loss. While the second is called Conductive hearing loss which occurs when the sound waves cannot get to the inner ear and this can be due to a punctured eardrum, earwax buildup and fluid. Though medical treatment can solve the conductive hearing loss.

PRESBYCUSIS

This is also called Age Related hearing loss which occurs in older people as they grow old and this is usually caused because of the changes in the inner ear and auditory nerve. This is what she is experiencing as she finds it hard to tolerate loud sounds or hear what others are saying. Presbycusis affects both ears equally.

There are ways to cope with an old person experiencing hearing loss which has been working effectively for grandma 

Let people know you have a hearing problem. When a person is talking to her, she would quickly make them aware of her problem so they would know how to relate with her.

Ask people to face you and speak slowly, clearly and louder but not shouting. We don't talk to her at her back so we can save ourselves from hurting our voices. She would even tell us to face her while we speak slowly so she would get whatever we are communicating across to her.

Pay attention to what you are hearing especially with facial expressions or gestures. People like this should be communicated with expressions. They quickly understand when you make gestures too.

Then make such a person know you do not understand what you are saying so they can repeat every word again.

Thanks for reading.

Image by Mark on unsplash

[April 14, 2022] (No 104 article for the year)