Introduction

It's easy to take good hearing for granted. However, our hearing does tend to deteriorate naturally as we age. More than half of people over the age of 60 have a degree of hearing loss.

How do I know if I have a hearing loss?

Here is a simple checklist to help you decide. If you answer 'yes' to any of the following questions, you may have a hearing loss.

• Do you have to turn up the television and radio more than you used to, or does your family complain that the sound is too loud?
• Do you sometimes wish people would speak clearly, and stop mumbling?
• Do you sometimes misunderstand what people say to you, or find yourself asking people to repeat things?
• Do you find it difficult to hear at social gatherings, in places of worship, or when there is some background noise?
• Do you ever have difficulty hearing the doorbell or telephone ring, or hearing people on the telephone?
• Do you ever miss your name being called, for example at the doctor's surgery?

What to do if you think you have a hearing loss

Make a list of situations where you have difficulty in hearing to talk about with your doctor. There could be many reasons why you are not hearing as well as you used to, such as a build-up of wax in your ears, or an infection, which can be dealt with simply by your doctor.

If your doctor cannot find an obvious cause for your hearing loss, she/he may refer you to a specialist. If your specialist tells you that your hearing loss is due to aging, you will probably be offered a hearing aid to help you.

Hearing aids: What they do

Hearing aids are designed to amplify sounds. The amount of amplification needed will depend on the type and degree of hearing loss that you have. Hearing aids are especially designed to cope with the sounds that make up speech. Most people with a hearing loss find that they can hear different pitches or 'frequencies' of sound better than others. A hearing aid amplifies these different frequencies to accommodate your own needs.

Types of hearing aids

There are several different types of hearing aids to choose from.

Behind-the-Ear aids are worn with an ear-mold made especially for you, which feeds sounds into your ear and keeps the hearing aid in place behind your ear. There are models of Behind-the-Ear aids to suit nearly all types and degrees of hearing loss.

In-the-Ear aids fit right into your ear, rather than behind it. They are individually molded to fit your own ear. The smaller style, which fit right inside your ear canal are not usually suitable if you are severely deaf.

Digital hearing aids use more advanced technology than analogue models. They can be more precisely set to suit your individual pattern of hearing loss. Some also adjust automatically to suit various listening situations.

Choosing the right model for you

Here are a few points to think about when you are deciding what sort of hearing aid you might want.

• Remember that in-the-ear aids can be fiddly to adjust because of the very small controls. If you have arthritis in your fingers, or poor sight, this could be a problem for you.
• Be aware that some hearing aid advertisements can be misleading. Be especially cautious about claims that a particular hearing aid will cure the problem of unwanted background noise. This remains a major problem for hearing aid manufacturers and users, although some hearing aids have special features to help.
• You can expect most hearing aids to last around five to seven years. But, if your hearing gets worse, you may need to replace the aid with a more powerful model before then.
• For some, price is an important factor. Remember there may be cheaper models that don't have all the additional features that are available, or you can look for a deep-discount supplier (see second link below).

Will a hearing aid help me?

Hearing aids do not restore your hearing to normal, or 'cure' your hearing loss. They are simply an 'aid to hearing'.

When you use a hearing aid for the first time, everyday sounds may seem quite loud. It may take a couple of months to get used to hearing sounds with your new aid. If you have any problems, you should return to the person who supplied you with the aid for further advice.

You will probably find that your hearing aid is more helpful in some circumstances than others. You will need to experiment. They are most useful in quiet surroundings, when you are talking to one or two people at a time. Background noise, such as music, or other people talking, may interfere with what you are trying to hear. Many public places have 'loop' systems fitted to help people with hearing aids to filter out unnecessary background noise.

Other types of help

Special equipment designed to help you to hear particular sounds around the home can also help.

Such gadgets are available to amplify the sound from your television and radio. Some telephones have an amplifier in the handset to let you turn up the volume to hear the other person more clearly. Some are also fitted with an 'inductive coupler' for hearing aid users.

Equipment is also available to make your doorbell louder, or vibrating pads or flashing lights that will let you know somebody is at your door.

This Tip of the Month is a service sponsored by Help the Aged (see first link below).