Too much exposure to high-decibel sounds over time can cause gradual deterioration of sensitive tiny hair cells lining the inner ear, eventually leading to hearing loss. Although other causes of hearing loss, including age-related causes, are common, following certain tips can prevent noise-induced hearing loss in aging adults.
Wear Hearing Protection
Wearing hearing protection, such as earplugs, canal caps, and earmuffs, can counter hearing loss resulting from exposure to loud sounds. Various forms of hearing protection, which can be purchased over the counter or customized to fit the ears, can reduce noise by about 25 decibels. Earplugs and earmuffs can be worn together. It’s advisable to keep hearing protection handy and in good condition.
If your loved one is experiencing hearing loss and could use some extra help at home to remain safe and comfortable, consider hiring a professional caregiver. Living with serious health conditions can make it challenging for seniors to age in place. However, they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional live-in care. Kennebunk seniors can benefit from assistance with meal prep, bathing, transportation to the doctor’s office, medication reminders, and much more.
Limit Loud Noises
Seniors are more vulnerable to hearing problems, so they shouldn’t be exposed to sudden or continuous loud sounds. Turning down the volume on TVs and radios, conversing in low tones, and being alert to sources of hazardous noises can halt noise-induced hearing impairment.
Move Away from Loud Sound
Sometimes it becomes difficult to completely avoid loud noises from sirens, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, power tools, and other sources of noise in the environment. Staying away from such sounds or moving to a quiet room may halt damage to hearing.
If your elderly loved one needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Align Home Care, a trusted provider of home care. Our caregivers provide transportation to and from medical appointments and social events, nutritious meal preparation, assistance with daily exercise, and help with everyday tasks like bathing, grooming, and light housekeeping.
Teach Family & Friends the Importance of Avoiding Excessive Noise
Family members and friends should know seniors are more vulnerable to noise-induced hearing loss, so they should learn noise-reducing practices, such as turning down the TV while talking, to ensure seniors aren’t exposed to loud noises for prolonged periods. Along with the aforementioned techniques, family caregivers should help their loved ones safely remove ear wax regularly.
Make sure your loved one has the support he or she needs to prevent hearing loss. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of in-home care. Kennebunk families can rely on Align Home Care to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia. To learn about our high-quality in-home care options, give us a call at (207) 835-3490 today.