Seniors who are living alone should have regular hearing screenings. Any changes to your mom or dad’s hearing may impact their ability to live alone safely. It’s common for seniors to put off getting preventative screenings, but there are some screenings that are too important to miss.
If your mom or dad hasn’t had a hearing screening recently, you should make an appointment for them to have a hearing test. Often, family caregivers put off making medical appointments for senior parents who are aging in place because they have a hard time getting time off of work to take their senior parent to the doctor.
However, home care providers can make sure that your mom or dad gets to their appointments so that you don’t have to take time off from your job or wrangle your small kids to take them to the doctor’s office, too. A home care provider can take your mom or dad to a hearing screening, stay with them through the appointment, and take them home again.
If it’s been a long time since your mom or dad had a hearing screening, or if you are noticing that they are displaying any of these signs of hearing loss, then they need to get screened soon.
Difficulty Understanding Conversations
One of the earliest and most noticeable signs of hearing loss that seniors experience is difficulty understanding conversations, especially in noisy environments. You or home care providers may notice that your mom and dad are:
- Frequently asking others to repeat themselves.
- Misinterpreting words or phrases leads to responses that don’t make sense in the conversation.
- Struggling to follow group discussions or conversations on the phone.
Your mom or dad may yell at you to speak up if they are frustrated that they can’t hear you clearly.
Increasing the Volume of Electronic Devices
Seniors who have hearing loss often compensate by increasing the volume of their electronic devices. You will notice if you go to your mom or dad’s house and they are:
- Turning up the TV or radio volume to levels that others find too loud.
- Using the maximum volume on phones or headphones.
- Getting complaints from family members or neighbors about excessive noise levels.
This need for higher volume can be a clear indicator that their hearing is not as sharp as it once was or that there may be another type of problem causing them to have poor hearing.
Withdrawal from Social Activities
Hearing loss can lead to significant social and emotional consequences. If your mom or dad is having trouble hearing, they may start:
- Not wanting to talk on the phone.
- Not wanting to chat when you come by.
- Not wanting friends or family members to visit.
Social isolation and loneliness can cause big health problems for seniors, so if you notice that your senior parent is starting to withdraw and not want to see or talk to people, the first thing you should do is get them a hearing screening. Also, home care services should be considered, as caregivers can help with routine care and interaction.
Experiencing Tinnitus
Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is a common symptom associated with hearing loss. If your mom or dad has tinnitus, they may complain about:
- Constant or intermittent ringing, buzzing, or hissing sounds in one or both ears.
- Difficulty concentrating or sleeping due to the persistent noise.
- Increased stress or irritation caused by the continuous background noise.
A qualified doctor can diagnose tinnitus and recommend treatment options that home care providers can help stay on top of.
Difficulty Hearing High-Frequency Sounds
Hearing loss in seniors often affects their ability to hear high-frequency sounds. This can cause your mom or dad to:
- Have trouble hearing the voices of women and children, which are typically higher in pitch.
- Miss out on certain consonants in speech, such as “s,” “t,” and “f,” which can make words sound unclear.
- Have difficulty hearing alarms, doorbells, or the phone ringing.
It can be dangerous for seniors living alone to not be able to hear a fire alarm or hear the doorbell. Get your senior parent a hearing screening so that they can be safer at home, and consider home care services.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care in Ansonia, CT, please contact the caring staff at Talem Home Care & Placement Services of New Haven, CT, today. Call (203) 538-6273
At Talem Home Care & Placement Services of Fort Hartford, CT, we provide passionate, understanding, and flexible caregivers in New Haven, Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Cheshire, Derby, Milford, Naugatuck, Orange, Prospect, Seymour, Shelton, Stratford, Trumbull, West Haven, Woodbridge, and Woodmont and surrounding areas in Connecticut.
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