Vision and Hearing in an Aging America
We are all aware of the
cliches of growing older: we get shorter, our tall tales get bigger, and we get
revenge on our own children by spoiling theirs! Seriously, there are a number
of things we can expect as we get older and our bodies begin to change, and two
of the most common changes for older folks have now been linked by doctors who
are beginning to believe they have factors in common.
If you asked ten people what
physical changes they would expect as they got older, most would probably
mention diminishing abilities in hearing and vision. Most of us take it for
granted that grandmas and grandpas wear glasses, and can't always hear what we
are saying. Although a certain loss in hearing and vision can be blamed on the
wear and tear of years of living, the latest research has cast a surprising new
light on the health and quality of life of seniors with hearing and vision
impairments.
A study was recently
completed at the University of Sydney. The study confirmed that hearing and
vision loss are indeed common markers of normal biological aging. In addition,
the study suggested that both conditions could
share common causes.
In their report, the study's
leaders pointed out that a significant number of seniors with hearing and/or
vision loss were experiencing the normal deleterious effects of getting older.
However, the study also showed that there was a significant-to-modest
association between the two – thought to be unrelated – conditions. The study
took as its subjects a large number of seniors with an average age of 70 years.
The unique finding in the study was that seniors who had developed hearing loss
were 1.5 times more likely to develop vision impairment, too. In addition,
patients who had problems with their vision were 18% more likely to also suffer
from hearing loss.
In light of this new data,
the researchers were able to pinpoint some common causes that patients with
both conditions shared. They include: atherosclerosis (hardening of the
arteries), diabetes, stress, and cigarette smoking. In fact, macular degeneration,
cataracts and hearing loss all shared common roots, and diabetes was shown to
be a substantive link between hearing loss and cataracts.
Although further studies will
be need to fully understand the connections between loss of hearing and loss of
vision, the effects of these conditions are all too familiar: social and
psychological isolation, and loss of quality of life.
Any senior experiencing loss
of hearing or vision is loosing out on more than the fine details of
experience. A senior with hearing trouble can't interact as effectively with
family and friends. A senior with vision trouble may loose the ability to
participate in their regular activities. For most seniors, these conditions
aren't serious, but they can still rob older folks of quality of life. In
addition to a number of treatments and surgeries that exist to treat these
conditions, this new information may help to stop loss of vision and hearing
before they begin. Luckily, for seniors who are already experiencing moderate
hearing and vision impairment, there are also a number of companies currently
making new products designed to minimize the impact of these conditions on
their quality of life.
For seniors with vision
problems, products like The
Reading Pen II and the Talking
Thermometer are space-age devices that can
make a big difference in their lives right now. The Reading Pen II is an
improved version of its little brother. This pen can actually trace a printed
line in a book and read it aloud, and that's only the beginning! The Talking Thermometer
is a similar device with a more crucial purpose. For seniors, the difference
between feeling under-the-weather or being truly ill can be a matter of life
and death. A misread thermometer could be a major stumbling block with drastic
results.
Seniors who have trouble
hearing can also take advantage of new products to assist them in carrying on
with their regular activities. There are a number of headphone and personal
amplifier products available that allow
hearing-impaired seniors to continue to enjoy all of their regular activities
with a minimum of discreet assistance. In addition, a product like the movable Strobe
Alert Smoke Detector can be placed anywhere
in the room. Even if a senior has trouble hearing a regular alarm, the flaring
strobe signal will alert them to danger.
Of course, in all situations
involving your health, your best advice will come from your doctor. However, in
today's world, most doctors welcome an educated patient who keeps abreast of
the latest research on their condition, and may offer some helpful insights. By
working with your doctor, and taking advantage of the range of lifestyle
products for those affected by hearing and vision impairment, you can insure
that you'll make the most out of your time for years to come.
Active and Able: Daily Living Made Easier
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