Hearing loss or impairment is often considered to be an inevitable part of aging. And while it is true that many seniors do lose some degree of hearing, it doesn’t mean that there is nothing that can be done about it. Sometimes, the solution is as simple as removing blocked ear wax, while others manage very well with hearing aids, which are becoming smaller and less obvious all the time.
But in order to determine what type of help you may need, you must be tested. Unfortunately, many people seem to be hesitant to take action to get their hearing tested, likely due to a number of concerns: denial, fear, and cost, to name a few.
Enter the latest offering from the National Hearing Test, a nonprofit organization that now offers a telephone-based hearing test that can be taken right from the comfort of home. Unlike an audiologist’s typical “pure tones” hearing test, consisting of various frequencies of beeps and hums, the phone test is comprised of numbers spoken in varying degrees of static. Taking the test is simply a matter of pressing the corresponding numbers on your keypad.
For the nominal fee of $5 (currently being waived for AARP members), results of the hearing test are provided immediately at the end of the call, broken down for each separate ear into normal hearing, or slight or substantial impairment.
While it can be intimidating to take that first step to confirm clinical hearing loss, the risks of ignoring it can be even greater, as there’s evidence linking hearing loss with cognitive decline and a heightened occurrence of dementia. Click here to take the test or to learn more.
If someone you love lives in the Hinsdale or Chicago area, and needs assistance to manage at home, either because of a hearing impairment or for another reason, the skilled in-home caregivers at Independence-4-Seniors Home Care can provide you with the help needed. From companionship to nursing care, our services are adapted to meet all our clients’ needs. Contact us today at (630) 323-4665 to see how we can help you or for a free in-home care assessment.