Hearing loss is one of the most common issues among the elderly. Age-related hearing loss can make it difficult for your senior loved one to communicate and interact with other people, which may lead to isolation. However, there are a few ways your loved one can protect his or her hearing.
1. Learn about the Symptoms
Many seniors aren’t aware of the symptoms of hearing loss, and they automatically assume them to be a part of aging. If your loved one recognizes the symptoms, he or she can consult a doctor and discuss treatment options. Some of the most common symptoms associated with hearing loss include:
Ringing in the ears
Fullness in the ears
Pain in one or both ears
Sudden changes in hearing
Hearing loss could indicate the onset of a serious health condition. In such cases, seniors should consult their doctors immediately and consider treatment and in-home care options. If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of home care service families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
2. Avoid Loud Noises
It’s important for your loved one to stay away from loud and persistent noises that could damage his or her inner ear. Your loved one can wear earplugs or another device to protect his or her hearing. These protective devices should be worn anytime your loved one does an activity that exposes him or her to noises of 85 decibels or higher.
3. Adjust Headphone Volumes
If your loved one is watching television, listening to music, or playing a video game, you should adjust the volume on the device, whether he or she is using headphones or earbuds. If the volume is high, your loved one’s odds of developing hearing loss could increase at a faster rate. Once the headphones or earbuds have been plugged into the computer or smartphone, make sure to turn the volume down as low as possible.
4. Keep the Ears Clean
Poor hygiene habits often lead to wax buildup, which could cause hearing loss. Make sure your loved one doesn’t use a cotton swab when cleaning the ears, as this could push the wax deeper into the ear. Instead, he or she should use at-home irrigation kits. These kits soften the wax and make it easier to remove. If the wax gets compacted in your loved one’s ears, he or she will need to consult with a doctor to have the wax removed. Consider hiring a professional caregiver if your loved one needs help maintaining good hygiene habits. Whether your elderly loved one needs part-time assistance with basic household chores or you need a break from your caregiving duties, the Arlington respite care experts at Home Care Assistance are here to help. All of our respite care services are backed with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, there are no hidden fees in our contracts, and we never ask our clients to sign long-term contracts.
5. Visit a Doctor Regularly
Visiting a doctor on a regular basis is one of the best ways to prevent hearing loss. The doctor can administer an audiogram, which is a baseline hearing test that can determine if your loved one already has hearing loss. If the doctor can detect the issue early on, he or she can suggest treatment options to preserve your loved one’s hearing or prevent more severe issues from occurring.Caring for an older adult, especially if he or she is experiencing hearing loss, can be a challenging task. Seniors can face a variety of challenges as they age, many of which can be mitigated with the help of professional in-home caregivers who provide high-quality elder care. Arlington families trust Home Care Assistance to help their elderly loved ones age in place safely and comfortably. Call one of our dedicated Care Managers today at (817) 591-1580 to learn about the high quality of our in-home care services.
