All about different types of hearing loss and different types of hearing aids available. Learn how to take care of hearing problems with hearing aids.

1. HOW DO WE HEAR?
HEARING LOSS IN ELDERLY PEOPLE
TYPES OF HEARING LOSS IN ELDERLY PEOPLE
SYMPTOMS OF HEARING LOSS IN ELDERLY PEOPLE
CAUSES OF HEARING LOSS IN ELDERLY PEOPLE
HOW CAN YOU PREVENT HEARING LOSS IN ELDERLY
PEOPLE?
TREATMENT OF HEARING LOSS IN ELDERLY PEOPLE
C O N T E X T
2
0 3
0 4
0 5
0 8
1 0
1 1
1 2

2. H E A R I N G L O S S I N
1
P R E S E N T E D B Y Q U A L I T Y H E A R I N G C A R E
E L D E R L Y P E O P L E

3. 3
H O W D O W E H E A R ?
T H E H E A R I N G T A K E S P L A C E B Y A S E T O F E V E N T S T O C H A N G E S O U N D W A V E S I N T H E A I R
I N T O E L E C T R I C A L S I G N A L S . T H E A U D I T O R Y N E R V E C A R R I E S T H E S E S I G N A L S T O Y O U R B R A I N
T H R O U G H A C O M P L E X P R O C E S S W I T H V A R I O U S S T E P S .
Sound waves enter the outer ear and travel
through the ear canal, a narrow passageway,
leading to the eardrum.
The eardrum vibrates from the incoming sound
waves and sends these vibrations to three small
bones in your middle ear named malleus, incus,
and stapes.
When the vibrations cause a ripple in the fluid
inside the cochlea, a traveling wave is formed along
the basilar membrane. Hair cells i.e. the sensory
cells on top of the basilar membrane ride the wave.
1 . 2 . 3 .

4. With the hair cells moving up and down, microscopic hair-like projections
known as stereocilia perched on top of the hair cells bump against an overlying
structure and bend. This causes pore-like channels at the tips of stereocilia to
open up. With this, chemicals start to run into the cells creating an electrical
signal.
4
H O W D O W E H E A R ?
This electrical signal is carried to the brain through the auditory nerve which turns
into a sound that we can recognize and understand to respond accordingly.
5 .
4 .

5. MOST OF THE AGE-RELATED HEARING LOSS
HAPPENS IN BOTH EARS.
5
W H A T I S A H E A R I N G L O S S I N
E L D E R L Y P E O P L E ?
Hearing loss in the elderly is caused commonly due to changes in the inner ear
or middle ear as we age. In some cases, it is because of complex changes along
the nerves from ear to brain. Some medical conditions and medication may
also play a role in hearing loss.

6. 6
D I F F E R E N T T Y P E S O F H E A R I N G L O S S I N A D U L T S ?
Conductive Hearing Loss is a result of outer or
middle ear obstruction typically caused by fluid,
earwax, tumours, or ear formation which averts
sound from reaching to the inner ear. It is generally
possible to treat conductive hearing loss with
medicines and surgery.
C O N D U C T I V E H E A R I N G L O S S S E N S O R I N E U R A L H E A R I N G L O S S
Sensorineural Hearing Loss, on the other hand, occurs
due to damage in inner ear nerves and hair cells. It
affects the nerve pathways from your inner ear to your
brain. Most of the time, sensorineural hearing loss is
not possible to be corrected with medical supervision.
It is treated or helped by using a hearing aid.

7. 7
O U T O F T H E T W O T Y P E S , S E N S O R I N E U R A L H E A R I N G L O S S I S O B S E R V E D A S T H E
M O S T C O M M O N T Y P E O F H E A R I N G L O S S I N E L D E R L Y P E O P L E A S T H E N E R V E S I N T H E
I N N E R E A R B E C O M E W E A K W I T H A G E .

8. STRUGGLING TO HEAR HIGH-PITCHED SOUNDS
FIND IT DIFFICULT TO HEAR IN NOISY SITUATIONS
WORDS SOUND MUFFLED OR SLURRED
MEN’S VOICES EASIER TO HEAR THAN WOMEN’S
RINGING IN THE EAR (TINNITUS)
STRUGGLING TO HEAR CLEARLY ON THE TELEPHONE
UNABLE TO LISTEN AT LOW VOLUME ON TVS AND RADIOS
ASKING PEOPLE TO REPEAT THEMSELVES
SOME SOUNDS SEEM OVERLY LOUD AND ANNOYING
YOU’RE SPEAKING TOO LOUDLY AS QUOTED BY OTHERS
HAVE TO CONCENTRATE SO MUCH ON WHAT IS BEING SAID IN GROUP SETTINGS
MISSING PARTS OF SPEECHIRRITATION OF BEING UNABLE TO HEAR
UNABLE TO DISTINGUISH WHO IS SPEAKING IN A GROUP
SOCIAL WITHDRAWING DUE TO HEARING DIFFICULTIES
HAVING FRUSTRATION AND LOWER SELF-ESTEEM DUE TO ISSUE IN RECIPROCATING.
8
S Y M P T O M S O F
H E A R I N G L O S S I N
E L D E R L Y P E O P L E

9. 9
S I G N S O F H E A R I N G L O S S

10. 1 0
C A U S E S O F H E A R I N G L O S S I N E L D E R L Y P E O P L E
Structural Changes in your inner ear may cause your inability to hear with gradual loss of hearing, as we age, the inner ear structure
changes and it may lead to hearing loss in most of the elderly people.
Changes in Brain Hearing i.e. how the brain processes speech and sound may affect your hearing ability.
Impairment of the auditory nerve may result in hearing loss.
Blood flow change to the ear due to other health-related conditions like certain medication, genetic factors, loud noise exposure, etc
may also result in hearing loss or deafness.
1 .
2 .
3 .
4 .

11. 1 1
H O W C A N Y O U P R E V E N T
H E A R I N G L O S S I N E L D E R L Y
P E O P L E ?
Avoid repetitive loud noise exposure and noisy environments
Using ear protection in noisy circumstances
Eat healthily and exercise regularly to beat hypertension and
diabetes that may cause hearing loss
Getting tested regularly for hearing abilityConsulting the
audiologist immediately if any symptom occurs.

12. 1 2
T R E A T M E N T O F H E A R I N G
L O S S I N E L D E R L Y P E O P L E
HEARING AID
AURAL REHABILITATION, AND PIECES OF TRAINING IN LIP
AND SPEECH-READING, SIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING IS
ALSO AN OPTION
THE COCHLEAR IMPLANT IN SOME CASES

13. 1 3
T H A N K Y O U
Check out the full article using the Link in Description below.
Website: www.qualityhearingcare.com
Email: info@qualityhearingcare.com