Antonio from Melina Joy Opticians discusses the importance of ‘Aural Health’
7th November
Melina Joy Opticians has been offering a hearing service to their clients for some time now. The resident audiologist, Antonio Vas Falcao, is sharing in this article the importance of ‘’Aural health’’ and the importance of early detection and intervention of hearing loss.
People often fail to appreciate how much they rely on their hearing. From hearing sounds in our environments (like the doorbell, or a car approaching us when we cross a road), to hearing the subtle punchline of a joke, or enjoying the euphony of birdsong on a summer’s evening.
Today in the UK, hearing loss affects 12 million people. This would be 1 in 5 adults. According to the office for national statistics, more than 40% of people over 50 years old have a hearing loss, rising to more than 70% of people over the age of 70.
Hearing loss can be caused by various factors, including exposure to loud noises, certain medications, genetic conditions or diseases, to name a few. One of the most common types of hearing loss is called presbycusis. Like presbyopia, which is a deterioration of our eyesight with age, presbycusis is the deterioration of our hearing with age, caused by the associated wear and tear that comes with it. Presbycusis is often associated with the deterioration of certain pitches that we hear, rather than not hearing at all. This is why a lot of people with hearing loss claim to hear most things, but it is the clarity and precision of what is heard that is lacking.
The onset of hearing loss caused by presbycusis is often imperceptible and can go unnoticed. I will use an analogy of the proverbial ‘’boiling of a frog’’ to bring clarity and understanding to persons with this type of hearing loss. A hearing loss can often creep up on you. Often wearing away at one’s hearing, a negligible amount every day for several years, forcing other senses to be over worked to compensate for the loss in hearing. This can cause one to get gradually disconnected from certain sounds in the environment. This can be likened to the frog who got into the pot of water when it was cool and has not realised that it has now gradually started to boil.
What to look out for with your hearing
Antonio has listed down a few things to look out for that could indicate the presence of a hearing loss.
- Turning up the TV/radio louder than other would like
- Finding it hard to hear over the phone
- Feeling like people ‘’mumble’’ when they speak
- Asking people for repetitions
- Having a partner/family complain that you don’t listen
A common manifestation of such a hearing loss includes a difficulty hearing conversation in background noise. With the festive season fast approaching, a lot of us are probably preparing for parties, pub visits or Christmas parties. With all the noise and background babble, these situations can be more challenging for those with a hearing loss.
There are various ways a hearing loss can be managed. To list a few;
- Make sure people face you when speaking
- Ask people to speak slowly, and to rephrase a sentence if you are finding it hard to follow them
- Make sure you are in a well-lit environment, so as to be able to see the other person’s face
- Move away from any sources of noise and find a quieter place to converse
- Most significantly, wear hearing aids
This advice is directed at those who are communication partners of those with a hearing loss too. Be aware of their presence in a group and follow the listed communication tips.
If you notice any of the signs listed in the article, the most important thing you can do is to seek professional advice. Speaking to your GP or booking in with an audiologist to have a hearing assessment is a great way to identify any hearing loss creeping in.
Early intervention is essential for positive outcomes
Studies have indicated that early intervention with hearing aids has shown to provide the maximum benefit through continuous stimulation of the auditory pathways, as well as the auditory cortex in the brain. This avoids deprivation and further deterioration of the pathways. Additionally, untreated hearing loss has recently been identified as a potential risk factor for dementia (Further information visit https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/managing-the-risk-of-dementia/reduce-your-risk-of-dementia/hearing-loss) .
A good start would be to ask oneself if it is worth preserving the sound of your children’s or grandchildren’s laughter, or the moment you hear that clever quip on your favourite TV show. All this could help brighten up your world of sounds that has lost a bit of its colour.
The latest hearing aids are very good at amplifying sounds in your environment that you could be missing, and in turn enhance your hearing in quiet as well as busy scenarios.
If you have concerns with your hearing or would like to discuss any of this further, we would be happy to see you for a free hearing assessment at Melina Joy Opticians.
