Hearing loss affects roughly one out of three people ages 65 to 74, and about one out of two people over age 75, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Left untreated, hearing loss is linked to social withdrawal, depression and even early cognitive decline. Be sure to look out for the following signs your loved one has hearing loss in order to prevent or delay these risks.
The TV Is too Loud 
A common complaint from the loved ones of those who have hearing loss is that the TV and other entertainment is too loud. This is not surprising, as most people with hearing loss have difficulty discerning speech from background noise. Furthermore, TV shows and movies tend to layer dialogue, sound effects and music, making it an especially difficult listening environment.
They Speak Loudly
If you’ve ever tried to carry on a conversation while wearing headphones or earbuds, you know that you talk as loud as necessary to hear yourself, regardless of whether your conversation partner can hear you loud and clear. This is the same for people with hearing loss, who tend to speak louder than necessary so that they can hear their own voices.
They Have a Hard Time on the Phone
Whether we are consciously aware of it or not, we rely a lot on visual cues from our conversation partners. During phone conversations, we are unable to do so, which is why many people with hearing loss have a difficult time talking on the phone – they are unable to rely on lip reading and gestures to follow along.
They Have Balance Problems
A study of over 2,00 adults ages 40 to 69 found that people with mild hearing loss are three times more likely than those with normal hearing to experience a fall. For every 10 additional dB of hearing loss, this risk increases by 1.4 times. If your loved one seems unsteady on their feet and display any of the other symptoms listed above, it may be a good indicator hearing loss is present.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact the experts at Elk Grove Hearing Care.