The social toll of hearing loss

Straining to catch the gist of conversations is frustrating enough, but a new study shows that seniors with hearing loss are also at increased risk for hospitalization, illness, injury and depression.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 1,100 American men and women aged 70 and older with hearing loss, and found that over a four-year period they were 32 percent more likely to have been admitted to the hospital than more than 500 adults with normal hearing. Hearing-impaired seniors were also 36 percent more likely to have prolonged stretches (more than 10 days) of illness or injury and 57 percent more likely to have extended episodes (more than 10 days) of stress, depression or bad mood, according to the study, published online June 11 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

“Hearing loss may have a profoundly detrimental effect on older people’s physical and mental well-being, and even health care resources,” said study senior investigator Dr. Frank Lin, an otologist and assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Public Health. “Our results underscore why hearing loss should not be considered an inconsequential part of aging, but an important issue for public health,” Lin said in a Hopkins news release.

Hearing deficits can lead to social isolation, which in turn contribute to physical and mental declines, Lin said. Hearing loss affects as many as 27 million Americans over age 50, including two-thirds of men and women aged 70 years and older, according to Lin. The study doesn’t prove that being hard of hearing directly leads to other health problems, but it does show an association between the two. And health policymakers need to consider the broader health impact of hearing loss when making decisions for older people, study lead investigator Dr. Dane Genther, a resident in otolaryngology/head and neck surgery, said in the news release. Genther’s recommendations: expanded Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement for hearing-related health care services, wider installation of hearing loops in various facilities, and more accessible and affordable approaches for treating hearing loss.

Source: International: The News

 

Hearing loss linked to physical and mental decline

The social toll of hearing loss

 

Photo by The Point at Kilpatrick

“Hearing loss may have a profoundly detrimental effect on older people’s physical and mental well-being, and even health care resources,” says Dr. Frank Lin, an otologist and assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The social toll of hearing loss

Hearing loss is a communications issue

A lot of people spend thousands of dollars on hearing aids in North America, only to shove them in a drawer somewhere or send them back to their hearing aid dispenser. In fact, in the U.S., the return rate on hearing aids is 20 percent.

Psychologist Sam Trychin says hearing loss is complex and affects every bodily system including the nervous system, the immune system and the digestive system. Psychologically, having hearing loss makes people feel less acceptable to others, less confident, less in control of their environment.

"We need to do several things," he says. "One is to teach people to manage their communications situations so they can prevent or reduce the kinds of difficulties they have. Another is to work on helping people manage themselves, manage emotional arousal -- anger, anxiety, fear, depression -- all of them."

He says patients need to be taught how to calm their internal systems, particularly in circumstances where they have no control over their environment.

"People with hearing loss always feel they're in trouble, which isn't the case. In some situations, you have problems, in other situations you have fewer problems. For example, there are places at home where people can talk and be understood. In other places, communications is more difficult. So you begin to see that there are things that can be done to manage hearing loss."

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, there are things family and spouses can do to support a person with hearing loss who is uncomfortable in noisy family situations. There are also things the person can do for themselves. Here are some of Dr. Trychon's suggestions:

• Send a note to everyone ahead of time reminding them that the person has a hearing loss and asking them to speak to the person face-to-face or one-on-one.
• Make individual appointments during the day to sit down together or take a walk and have a conversation.
• Post notes around the house reminding people to speak directly to the person.

"Anticipating difficult situations is a critical component to get the best out of your hearing aids," says Dr. Trychin. For more tools to help patients with their psychological issues, Dr. Trychin recommends visiting The Ida Institute at www.idainstitute.com. This Danish website contains tools and strategies for professionals and for those who support people with hearing loss.