‘Quality of Life’ Seminar covers Hearing Loss

Hearing Loss discussed at Oak Park Arms' Health SeminarA professional from Interim Health Care will present a talk about hearing titled, “Can You Hear Me Now?” at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the Oak Park Arms retirement community, 408 S. Oak Park Ave. The public is invited to this free program.

Gradual hearing loss that occurs with aging is common. According to the National Institutes of Health, an estimated one-third of Americans between the ages of 65 and 75 and close to one-half of those older than 75 have some degree of hearing loss.

Doctors believe that heredity and chronic exposure to loud noises are the main factors that contribute to hearing loss over time.

In most cases, hearing loss results from damage to the inner ear. Aging and prolonged exposure to loud noise may cause wear and tear on the hairs or nerve cells in the cochlea that send sound signals to the brain. When these hairs or nerve cells are damaged or missing, electrical signals aren’t transmitted as efficiently, and hearing loss occurs. Higher pitched tones may become muffled, and it may become difficult to pick out words against background noise.

Ear infection and abnormal bone growths or tumors of the outer or middle ear can cause hearing loss. Other factors, such as earwax blockage or a ruptured ear drum, can prevent proper hearing as well.

Talk to your doctor if you have the following signs and symptoms:
•    Muffled quality of speech and other sounds
•    Difficulty understanding words, especially against background noise or in a crowd of people
•    Frequently asking others to speak more slowly, clearly and loudly
•    Needing to turn up the volume of the television or radio
•    Withdrawal from conversations
•    Avoidance of some social settings

Hearing loss cannot be reversed, but there are steps to take to improve hearing including hearing aids.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The program is free and open to the public. For more information call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.

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