Ask the Audiologist

Welcome back to my column.

Although I did not get a specific question regarding the topic I am about to discuss, it is, nevertheless, my favorite topic in that it deals with psychosocial implications of untreated hearing loss. The National Council on Aging reported on a study that was completed in 1999 entitled "Untreated Hearing Loss Linked to Depression, Anxiety, Social Isolation in Seniors".

It was quite clear from reading that study that it would no longer be appropriate for anyone to think of hearing loss as " harmless". The implications were astounding. Hearing-impaired people, in this study, were more likely to report being depressed and anxious. They were less likely to participate in social interactions. And they were more likely to state that "people get angry at me for no reason".

Hearing aid users, on the other hand, reported many benefits from the use of hearing aids, including an increased sense of independence and improved feelings about themselves. Additionally, their families noted improvement in the interpersonal relationships and overall quality of life. It was interesting to note that family members actually rated many of the improvements as higher than the hearing aid wearers.

The conclusions one can draw from this study are in agreement with many other studies: properly fitted hearing aids aren't expensive, they're priceless! What is it worth to restore a person's self confidence, and self-worth? How much would you pay to see your parent resume the interactions they used to love such as going to church, travel, restaurants – or even interacting with family members?

If your loved one is hearing impaired, you owe it to them – and to yourself – to suggest a hearing screening and perhaps the use of a device so that they can resume the life they had before the hearing loss.

Dear Dr. Frieda:
My husband and I have been married for many years and I find that we are increasingly arguing. I tell him he didn't hear me and he tells me that he hears what he wants. Do other people have this problem? What would you suggest?
- Lost on Long Island

Dear Lost:
You are experiencing a problem that occurs more often that many people realize. A study done in 1998 looked at the impact of hearing loss on relationships, and found that 34% of respondents reported that they socialized less with their family and friends because they could not fully participate. Another 34% said they stopped going to the movies, and 30% said they didn't want to meet new people because of the frustration. (The numbers overlap.)

In another study of married couples, 51% said they fought because one spouse needed to repeat things to the other spouse. 40% said they argued because the volume on the TV was too loud. 40% said the spouse didn't listen.

Hearing loss isolates us from the people who matter to us the most: our spouses, family and friends. Not being able to hear is not the same as not listening. Listening is selective -- you decide when to listen. Hearing loss doesn’t allow us to decide when we hear and when we don't.

It breaks my heart to hear someone say that their elderly parent is too old to use hearing aids. Tell me, when do we get to be so old that we no longer have to hear someone say "I love you"?

My best advice to you is to bring your husband in for a complete hearing test. It will help determine the extent of his hearing loss and the rehabilitative strategies we can use to help your husband. You see, we are more than just hearing aids. We look at the entire individual, his life style, and hearing needs and then we provide information on how we get that person hearing better. Our staff looks forward to meeting you and your husband.

Dear Dr. Frieda:
My husband is hard of hearing and is hospitalized alot. Do you have any suggestions?
- Mary

Dear Mary:
Your question came at just the right time. I was just reading a study which was recently published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (June 3, 2008) It looked at adverse events upon hospitalization for people who were hearing impaired, blind or had multiple health issues. They found that the chance of a preventable, adverse event among the study population was 29% higher than for people who were not in the study group. The lessons to be learned from this study are:

1. Whenever possible, have a family member or friend accompany you to the hospital and act as a second set of ears. We know from other studies that when we are being given important information by someone in the medical field, we only correctly understand 25% of what has been said, even when no hearing loss exists.
2. If needed, ask the admissions office or patient advocate for special assistive listening devices such as amplified telephones or ear buds for the TV. You are entitled to these by law. Take advantage of these.
3. Always bring a pad and pencil to the hospital. If you are being given information which you do not understand or do not hear, ask the staff member to write it down for you. Do not sign anything unless you understand it.
4. Take safeguards for your hearing aids while you are hospitalized. Do not wrap the aids in tissue paper or leave them in the pocket of your clothing. That is the surest way to lose them. Instead, put them into a box,clearly marked as "Mr. Jones hearing aids..do not discard". Also alert the nursing staff.

Lots of good luck and thanks for your question.
Dr Frieda

“Ask the Audiologist” is content prepared and reviewed by McGuire’s Director of Audiology, Dr. Frieda Toback, CCC/A, FAAA. This content is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.