Recently, a prominent researcher in the field of hearing loss suggested a simple change in the way we talk about hearing loss. Rather than frame it as a disability, said Dr. Justin Golub of Columbia University Irving Medical Center, “I like the idea of hearing fitness.” “Hearing loss” is a negative term. For people who … Continue reading How Fit is Your Hearing?
Hearing Loss and dementia
For Better Care for Older Adults, Think Hearing Loss.
Two scholarly papers published this month discussed the impact of hearing loss on patient communication in older adults. Both found that unrecognized hearing loss may have a serious negative impact on health care in the elderly. In the first, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) on January 18, researchers Jan Blustein, a professor of … Continue reading For Better Care for Older Adults, Think Hearing Loss.
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Considering a Cochlear Implant? You’re Never Too Old.
Is there an age limit for cochlear implant recipients? I asked this question of several cochlear implant surgeons around the country. Their answer? Never. All have implanted patients in their 90s and, as Anil Lalwani, of New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center said, he "routinely" operates on patients over 80. His oldest patient is 93. … Continue reading Considering a Cochlear Implant? You’re Never Too Old.
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Hearing Loss? Don’t Neglect Your Eyes
For people with hearing loss, even a small decrease in vision can affect the ability to lip-read and understand better what they hear. — Getty Images/Hero Images Those of us with more than just moderate hearing loss tend to take care of our hearing. We make sure our hearing aids are in good working … Continue reading Hearing Loss? Don’t Neglect Your Eyes
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Yes, I Have Hearing Loss, Talk to Me Anyway
This bears repeating: It's important to be included in the conversation. True friends and understanding family will do that. They'll repeat, they'll rephrase, they might even spell it out. One friend pulls out a notebook and jots down the key words. It helps if I parrot back the parts of the sentence I did hear, … Continue reading Yes, I Have Hearing Loss, Talk to Me Anyway
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New Study Suggests Hearing Aids May Help Protect Brain Health
For several years, studies have linked hearing loss and dementia, but no major study has addressed the big question: Could using hearing aids reduce the risk of cognitive decline? Now an important new French study finds that older adults who use hearing aids experience the same rate of cognitive decline as their peers with normal … Continue reading New Study Suggests Hearing Aids May Help Protect Brain Health
Katherine Bouton: Smart Hearing 