October is National Protect Your Hearing Month, a time to raise awareness about hearing health, especially among older adults.
Dr. Julia Coats, an audiologist at On Lok in the Bay Area, has spent over a decade providing compassionate care to low-income seniors. Her mission is simple: every older adult deserves access to high-quality healthcare, no matter what their financial situation.
One of the most common and often overlooked health challenges she addresses among seniors is sensorineural hearing loss. This type of hearing loss doesn't just make sounds softer; it makes words harder to understand, impacting daily communication and overall quality of life.
“I can hear people talking, but their words sound muffled,” is a typical complaint. The root cause? Aging hair cells in the inner ear, especially the ones that detect high-frequency sounds like /s/, /f/, and /t/. These sounds help us tell the difference between words like sat, fat, and hat. “When these sounds disappear, speech starts to sound blurry. Like it’s covered in static,” Dr. Coats explains.
After years of working in San Francisco’s Chinatown, Dr. Coats noticed something important when it comes to hearing loss. Language matters. Languages like Chinese or Vietnamese, which rely more on mid- and low-frequency tones, may mask early signs of hearing loss. “By the time issues show up, the hearing loss may already be advanced,” says Dr. Coats. That’s why she encourages audiologists to go beyond standard high-frequency tests and include real-world speech testing. Especially when evaluating speakers of tonal languages.
But hearing isn't just about sound. It's about how the brain processes it. As we age, the brain naturally slows down. When hearing is distorted, it must work harder to interpret speech, leading to fatigue, frustration, and increased risk of cognitive decline. “Untreated hearing loss forces the brain to overwork,” says Dr. Coats. “Over time, that stress adds up.”
But there’s hope. Regular hearing aid use can significantly reduce dementia risk. And frequent testing is advised. Dr. Coats recommends a baseline hearing test at age 65, with follow-ups every 1–2 years.
Aging adults should also look out for signs like repeatedly asking others to repeat themselves, saying, “I can hear you, but not clearly.” Also, paying attention to if hearing is worse in ear worse than the other. “Asymmetrical hearing loss can be a red flag for more serious conditions like tumors or vascular events. It shouldn’t be ignored,” she adds.
When it comes to support, hearing aids can be expensive, but effectiveness isn’t about cost. “The biggest factor is how long and consistently someone wears them,” she says. Wearing hearing aids for 8+ hours per day leads to the best outcomes. Even with more affordable models. Talking with a trusted audiologist for proper fitting, follow-up, and adjustments is advised. She also recommends a gradual adjustment period. Start in quiet environments and build up to noisier settings, so the brain can adapt.
Too often, people wait until their hearing is nearly gone before seeking help. By that point, the brain may have already begun to lose its ability to process sound effectively. “Hearing loss isn’t just a normal part of aging. It’s a treatable health issue,” says Dr. Coats. “The sooner we take action, the better we can protect both hearing and brain function.”
Original Source: World Journal
