Heard it Through the Grapevine
What portion of adults over age 65 have hearing loss?
A. 10 of 10
B. One in 10
C. One in three
C. One in three
True or False: Hearing loss and balance problems often go together.
True.
As you walk, your ears pick up subtle cues that help with balance. Hearing loss mutes these important signals. It also makes your brain work harder just to process sound. This subconscious multitasking may interfere with some of the mental processing needed to walk safely. In addition, The inner ear is responsible for both hearing and balance function. Hearing loss indicates that there is a problem with the hearing organ (cochlea) in the inner ear. Problems with the inner ear may also include the balance organs due to an underlying condition that impacts the inner ear as a whole.
How long does the average person with hearing loss wait before seeking treatment?
A. 2 years
B. 5 years
C. 10 years
10 years
What common symptom of hearing loss does Gildna Radner's character Emily Litella illustrate?
Confusion of words (mixing up beginning or ending sounds of words). Mistaking "violence" for "violins."
Which of the following increases your risk of developing dementia?
A. Biting your nails.
B. Hearing Loss
C. Regular exercise
B. Hearing loss.
In a study that tracked 639 adults for nearly 12 years, researchers at Johns Hopkins found that mild hearing loss doubled dementia risk. Moderate loss tripled risk, and people with a severe hearing impairment were five times more likely to develop dementia.
Brain scans show us that hearing loss may contribute to a faster rate of atrophy in the brain. Hearing loss also contributes to social isolation. You may not want to be with people as much, and when you are you may not engage in conversation as much. These factors may contribute to dementia.
What is an audiogram?
A. A punk rock record label
B. Like a singing telegram, but shouted instead of sung
C. A test to assess hearing.
C. When you get an audiogram to test your hearing, you go to a special soundproof room. Sounds of different pitches and volume are played through headphones, one ear at a time.
True or false: Your ears keep growing as you age.
False... but kind of a trick question!
Our ears do indeed get bigger as we age, but it’s not because they’re literally growing. It’s because the cartilage in our ears slowly breaks down, and gravity makes them elongate over time.
True or false: If you are tired all the time or find it more tiring to go out or be with people, hearing loss could be a cause.
True.
When hearing loss is present, the brain has to compensate for the loss and work harder than before to process the same information, causing stress on the brain and finally fatigue.
True or false:
I can only get a hearing aid if I go through my doctor and get a prescription.
False! In the United States you can buy over-the-counter hearing aids without an exam, prescription or professional fitting, thanks to an FDA ruling in August 2022.
At what level (decibels) does continued exposure to sound begin to present a risk to your hearing?
A. 30 decibels and above
B. 85 decibels and above (lawn mower)
C. 120 decibels and above (rock concert, jack hammer)
Sound is measured in decibels (dB). A whisper is about 30 dB, normal conversation is about 60 dB, and a motorcycle engine running is about 95 dB. Noise above 70 - 85 dB over a prolonged period of time may start to damage your hearing. Loud noise above 120 dB can cause immediate harm to your ears.
85 – 100 decibels: hair dryer, blender, power lawn mower, forklift, or subway train. 100 – 120 decibels: bulldozer, impact wrench, or motorcycle.
120 – 140 decibels: Rock concert, auto racing, or a hammer pounding a nail.
Which condition is hearing loss NOT associated with?
A. Depression
B. Migraine
C. Tinnitus
D. Freckles
D. Freckles.
Health care professionals should be aware of an increased risk for depression among adults with hearing loss. After accounting for health conditions and other factors, including vision trouble, hearing loss was significantly associated with depression, particularly in women.
How does a hearing impairment affect you emotionally? Deafness—whether mild, moderate, or total—interferes with our ability to communicate and socialize. It affects the quality of our interactions with other people, whether we’re trying to understand someone on the phone or order a meal in a restaurant. Losing the ability to hear and interpret things clearly can make a person feel separate from the rest of the world.
Which of the following statements about hearing aids are true? Pick all that apply:
Hearing aids can double as headphones
Hearing aids can “remember locations” and tailor the noise level
Hearing aids can be controlled by an app
Modern hearing aids can connect to smart devices such as an iPhone, smart TV, or laptop. This can be helpful if you want to talk on the phone, watch TV, or listen to music on the go.
Some of today’s hearing aids are able to pick up sounds based on your activity and then program themselves to remember the location. Imagine you’re at your favorite restaurant having a conversation with a friend across the table. Your hearing aid will amplify the voice of your companion and reduce the background noise in the restaurant. When you return to that location (or one similar), your hearing aid will replicate those settings.
Nowadays, most hearing aids can be controlled on an app. Instead of programming the device manually, you can use a smartphone or other mobile device to change the volume, customize settings on the device, and more.
Name one symptom of hearing loss.
Confusion of words (mixing up beginning or ending sounds of words).
Reduced ability to hear high-pitched sounds, such as birdsongs or a beeping microwave.
Conversations are hard to understand, especially over background noise
Men's voices are easier to hear than women's
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Needing to use the captions on movies or television shows
Name one thing that contributes to age-related hearing loss:
Changes along nerve pathways from ear to brain
Changes in the inner ear
Continuous exposure to loud noise
Health conditions such as heart disease or diabetes
Side-effects of some medications, such as aspirin and certain antibiotics
Can a hearing aid help with tinnitus (ringing in the ears)?
Yes! Hearing aids can help reduce the symptoms of tinnitus. Some hearing aids provide a kind of ‘masking’ effect for tinnitus, allowing you to hear sounds more naturally.