About one-third of Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 have hearing problems. Roughly half the people who are 85 and older have hearing loss. Hearing loss has many causes, symptoms, and effects when untreated over time. It is the most common sensory deficit in the elderly, and it is becoming a severe social and health problem. Hearing loss can impair the exchange of information, significantly impacting everyday life, especially in the elderly. Often times, this causes loneliness, isolation, dependence, and frustration, as well as communication disorders.
Hearing loss can create a psychological solitary confinement. Yet, many older adults with hearing loss deny the disability or the impact it exerts on their quality of life. If you have trouble hearing, there is help. Start by seeing a hearing professional you are comfortable with. Depending on the type and extent of your hearing loss, there are many treatment choices that may help. Hearing loss does not have to get in the way of your ability to enjoy life. Many people could reconnect themselves to the sounds they love if they decide to use hearing aids.
How do you know if you have a hearing loss? Do you have any of the symptoms below?
- Trouble hearing on the telephone
- Difficulty following conversations when two or more people are talking
- Need to turn up the TV volume so loud that others complain
- Have a problem hearing because of background noise
- Believe others seem to mumble constantly
- Have trouble understanding when women and children speak
What are the benefits of hearing aids?
- Able to hear sounds that you have not heard previously
- Able to hear speech over the telephone more clearly
- Able to communicate more easily with family and friends
- Ability to communicate may improve in loud places
The hearing specialist serves as the primary expert in the assessment and non-medical diagnosis of auditory impairment in people. A hearing instrument specialist is a person who, by virtue of academic and clinical training, and appropriate certification and/or licensure, is uniquely qualified to provide a comprehensive array of professional services relating to the prevention, evaluation, and rehabilitation of auditory impairment and its associated communicative disorders, as well as the fitting of hearing instruments.
“Our goal is to help anyone who feels they may be experiencing the negative impact of hearing loss in their daily life take the first step,” said Treasure LaFollette, Board Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist at Audible Hearing Center in Bryan. “We focus on continually serving the hearing needs of the Bryan and College Station, communities with dedicated hearing care. In this process, our practice demonstrates disciplines and values to ensure fair and personalized hearing care for each patient.”
Audible Hear Center offers a variety of hearing services including comprehensive hearing evaluations, hearing aid repairs, hearing aid batteries, amplified phones, and many other hearing related products.
“We are dedicated to improving the lives of the hearing impaired, one patient at a time. Everything we do is to help people with hearing loss enjoy the sounds, voices, people, and conversations in their lives. We take great pride in helping people get back the gift of hearing — there is nothing more gratifying,” LaFollette said.
Schedule you hearing evaluation today at Audible Hearing Center. Call 979.779.3070 or visit audiblehearing.com for more information.
complied by Ariel Rosentswieg