Forum: Seniors urged to prioritise getting hearing checked
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We agree that the proper fitting of hearing aids and structured post-fitting follow-up care can lower seniors’ risk of dementia and enhance their quality of life by giving them a better chance of remaining active, connected and independent ( Sumiko at 61: Hearing loss is linked to dementia risk. Here’s why you should not ignore it
Aside from research that links the treating of hearing loss to mitigating the risk of dementia, social isolation, loneliness, depression and anxiety, increased fall risk and cognitive decline are some other health risks associated with hearing loss, which the World Health Organisation says can be “broad and profound”.
It is common for seniors to delay seeking help until their hearing loss significantly impacts their social interactions, relationships, well-being and even safety. Early detection and intervention are important and I encourage everyone, particularly those aged 60 and above, to prioritise getting their hearing checked.
Of those fitted with hearing aids, anecdotal evidence from caregivers and hearing health professionals suggests that many hearing aids end up being put away rather than being used.
There are over 100,000 seniors estimated to have disabling hearing loss in Singapore and that number is expected to rise with Singapore’s ageing population, but 89 per cent of seniors prescribed hearing aids through the national functional screening programme do not take them up.
There are several reasons.
Some expect instant results, but hearing aids improve hearing; they do not restore normal hearing, and learning to hear more again is a gradual process, and can take up to a few months.
Hearing aids may be uncomfortable at first, with louder or unnatural sounds, or they may not sit comfortably at first. They also have to be tuned and adjusted regularly.
And hearing aids are not cheap.
The Singapore Association for the Deaf helps to lower the barriers to good hearing health by offering:
complimentary hearing tests to aid early detection;
personalised fitting services and comprehensive post-fitting care with patience and skill to help seniors maximise the effectiveness of their hearing aids;
the care of professionals to educate, explain and journey with seniors to encourage them to persist in wearing their hearing aids; and
assistance in securing financial aid through the Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund and the Assistive Technology Fund.
Some may see hearing loss as an unavoidable part of ageing, but with early detection and proper care, caregivers, the community and hearing health practitioners can encourage seniors to take up and persist in wearing hearing aids so they can better enjoy their golden years.
Sunil Kumar
Senior Speech and Language Therapist/Audiologist
The Singapore Association for the Deaf
