If you’re between the ages of 65 and 74, it’s a good thing you’re reading this health tip.
Because there’s a 33 percent chance you might have had trouble hearing it.
The National Institute on Aging reports roughly one-third of people between these ages — and nearly half of everyone 75 and older — suffer from hearing loss. This can range widely in severity and worsen if left untreated.
The NIA suggests consulting with your doctor if you have trouble hearing over the phone, find it difficult to follow conversations when two or more people are talking, need to turn up television volume so loud others complains or can’t understand women and children when they speak.
A doctor may refer you to an otolaryngologist, a doctor specializing in the ear, nose and throat. An otolaryngologist will take a medical history, ask if other family members have hearing problems and conduct a thorough exam. You may be referred to an audiologist, health care professionals who measure hearing.
The NIA reports hearing loss can have a variety of causes, including aging, ear wax build-up, viral or bacterial infection, head injuries or exposure to overly-loud noise for a long period of time.
There are ways to help someone suffering from hearing loss. These include facing the person and speaking clearly, speaking at a reasonable speed, not hiding your mouth or chewing gum while speaking and reducing background noises.
More information is available from the following groups: the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (www.nidcd.nih.gov), the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. (www.entnet.org), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (www.asha.org) or Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, Inc. (www.shhh.org).