There are many elderly people who struggle with hearing loss. Your elderly loved one might have hearing loss because of old age, disease, injury, or because of another reason. No matter what the reason is, your elderly loved one might become irritated because they can’t hear their loved ones and friends. Others might become frustrated because they have to keep repeating themselves. While there may be no immediate solution, the first step is to learn what things could hurt an elderly person’s hearing. From there, you as a caregiver, and your elderly loved one can work together for better communication.

Certain Medications

There are some medications that can harm someone’s hearing. The main ones that can cause this are ototoxic medications. These can lead to temporary or permanent hearing loss. The main medications included in this list would be certain antibiotics, chemotherapy medications, anti-inflammatory medications, and some other medications. If you or a hired caregiver are concerned that medications are affecting your elderly loved one’s hearing, be sure to talk to their doctor as soon as you can.

Smoking Cigarettes

Everyone knows there are dangers from smoking. However, when thinking about smoking cigarettes, most people just think about lung cancer and breathing issues. They don’t think about hearing loss. The truth is that there is research proving that smoking cigarettes can cause permanent hearing loss. This is generally caused by smoke inhalation and inflammation from cigarettes.

Doing Ear Candling

Some people will put objects into their ears. They may put cotton swabs or earwax cleaning machines into their ears. These products may claim to help get wax out of the ears. However, they can actually damage a person’s hearing. If you are helping to care for your elderly loved one, you should have them talk to their doctor about how to properly clean their ears. In addition, if you or a caregiver believe your elderly loved one may have already damaged their ears or their hearing, be sure to schedule them an appointment with a doctor to discuss this.

Concerns of the Caregiver

There are many things that could hurt an elderly person’s hearing. If you are concerned that your elderly loved one has already damaged their hearing, you should get them an appointment or assessment with a doctor. If your elderly loved one has permanent hearing loss, you and their caregiver will have to work on finding better ways to communicate with them. There are many hearing devices and other products that can help with improving communication.

Sources: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hearing-loss-common-problem-older-adults

If you or an aging loved-one is considering Caregiver Services in Fort Belvoir VA please contact the caring staff at Apex Classic Home Health Care today. (571) 275-9547

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Susana Sekyi

Owner at Apex Classic Home Health Care

We were inspired to open Apex Classic Home Health Care by the wealth of experience working in the nursing and medical fields. We have seen, first-hand, the type of care people need to maintain their health and hope. We use our knowledge and experience to provide all our clients the type of services, guardianship, and comfort they need to live at home. We are expert caregivers, stress relievers, and the trusted source for medical attention and hope that exists in the comfort of our clients’ homes. We work from an overarching philosophy of trust and compassion and strive to be THE premier source for in-home care in our community, and beyond.​

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