Hearing loss usually creeps up gradually on seniors. Over time, the wear and tear on the ears from noise contributes to hearing loss by damaging the sensitive inner ear. However, seniors with hearing loss generally wait an average of seven years before seeking help, and more than 15 million people in the United States with hearing loss avoid seeking help altogether.

Though hearing loss is irreversible, Freedom Home Care wants seniors who suffer from its effects to know that there are ways to help effectively manage hearing loss. To communicate more easily, seniors with a hearing loss should practice the following:

• Position themselves to hear better by facing the person to whom they are speaking
• Turn off background noise
• Ask others to speak clearly
• Choose quiet settings
• Consider using an assistive listening device—hearing devices, such as TV-listening systems or telephone-amplifying devices, help people hear better while decreasing other noises
• Consider using devices such as flashing/vibrating clocks and phones; visible doorbell signalers; specialized smoke and burglar alarms

Family caregivers can help by:

• Recognizing the signs of hearing loss and making appropriate referrals
• Being sensitive to the impact hearing loss has on the senior and the stages of adjustment the senior may go through before acceptance
• Modifying the home environment, when possible, to accommodate the special needs of those with a hearing loss
• Seeking the support of professionals like Freedom Home Care who have developed expertise providing quality home care to seniors with hearing loss

Need More Information?

• Visit the League for Hard of Hearing
• Contact AssistGuide Information Services for new and improved devices for accommodating hearing loss
• Contact Freedom Home Care for information on finding ways to live comfortably despite hearing loss

Freedom Home Care offers care for individuals who suffer from hearing loss as well as advice and guidance for friends and family who serve as caregivers. With technology and proper education, those living with even severe cases of hearing loss may still remain comfortable within their own home with proper care and assistance.

Contact Freedom Home Care in Dothan, Alabama at 334-803-8078 or Opelika, Alabama at 334-745-7308. Freedom Home Care also has offices in Columbus, Georgia and Montgomery, Alabama