Hearing Loss in Elderly Australians

Many Australians will experience hearing loss during their lives, with the likelihood increasing as we get older. Hearing loss can take a range of forms and be caused by multiple issues in the ear and brain, but they can all impact a person’s ability to socialise, connect with others, and enjoy life. Although hearing loss is often irreversible, there are treatments, devices and supports available to ensure that people with poor hearing don’t have to miss out.

What Is Hearing Loss?

 Hearing loss refers to a range of conditions in which a person struggles to hear speech and other sounds. It can be caused by many different factors, including temporary and permanent problems.

In some cases, the issue affecting hearing is the mechanisms of the ear itself. This is called sensorineural hearing loss, and it occurs when the cochlea or the auditory nerve within the ears are damaged or malfunctioning. This means they are unable to transmit information to the brain, so the person cannot hear sound. This type of hearing loss is permanent.

When the outer or middle ears are affected, hearing loss can occur but is usually treatable. Infections, fluid, and ear wax can all prevent sound from passing through to the inner ear, causing conductive hearing loss. This can also happen when the eardrum is punctured.

Hearing loss can also occur when the ear is working correctly, but the brain cannot process sound. This is referred to as auditory processing disorder. It may be that the sufferer can hear some sounds, but it is difficult to determine where they are coming from or to understand speech.

Hearing loss is very common, with one in six Australians experiencing it. It is estimated that 3.6 million people currently have some level of hearing loss. It can occur at any age, but the risks increase as we get older. About half of all people aged between 60 and 70 experience hearing loss; for those aged over 80 years old, 80 per cent have hearing loss.

The Signs and Symptoms of Hearing Loss in Australian Elderlies

The symptoms of hearing loss can be hard to notice, and many older Australians live with hearing loss without realising they have a problem. The first signs that you may be experiencing hearing loss include: 

• Trouble hearing in noisy environments or when there’s background noise, such as in shopping centres or restaurants
• Difficulty following conversations and understanding what people say
• Asking people to repeat themselves or needing them to be facing you when speaking
• Not hearing everyday sounds such as the doorbell or the phone ringing
• Experiencing a buzzing sound or ringing in your ears that doesn’t go away.

 Sometimes it can be difficult to notice your own gradual loss of hearing. Look out for people around you making comments such as that you are speaking more loudly or that you need the television turned up louder than usual.

What Causes Hearing Loss in Australian Elderlies?

For older Australians, hearing loss can just be a normal part of ageing. It is common for hearing to decrease with age, and some families will be more prone to hearing loss than others. However, there is also a range of issues that can exacerbate the problem.

Health conditions that are common in older people can contribute to hearing loss. These include high blood pressure, heart conditions, diabetes and stroke. High blood pressure, or hypertension, can overwhelm the blood vessels in the ear. Over time, this leads to a degeneration of the cochlea. Diabetes can cause nerve damage in the inner ear, affecting the way that electrical signals travel to the brain.

 As we age, our immune systems become more vulnerable, and older people are often more prone to infection. Ear infections such as otitis media (or a middle ear infection) are caused by a virus or bacteria and can cause inflammation behind the eardrum, leading to problems hearing.

Certain medications can cause hearing loss when used for extended periods of time, including antibiotics and drugs used to treat cancer. These medications are called ‘ototoxic’ and doctors should inform patients of any side effects, including hearing loss, before prescribing them. 

Sometimes hearing loss can be caused by something as simple as a build-up of ear wax. Our ears naturally produce wax to prevent infection and damage to the inner ear, but sometimes it can become impacted, blocking sounds from travelling through the ear canal. 

Additionally, lifestyle factors can cause hearing loss over time. People who work in loud environments – such as industries like mining, building and farming – often experience hearing loss earlier in life. Frequent exposure to live music can also cause problems. It is recommended that people protect their ears by using earplugs and moving away from loud noise where possible.

Screening for Hearing Loss in Australian Elderlies

If you think you may be experiencing hearing loss, it is important to get your hearing checked. Often the problem can be treated, and your hearing can improve. Some of the tests that can be used to screen for hearing loss include:

• Pure tone audiometry. This test uses an audiometer to produce ‘pure tones’, usually sounding like beeps and whistles. The patient is fitted with headphones and presses a button to indicate when they can hear the sound. The machine can test your hearing in your outer and inner ears to determine where the issue may be.
• Speech discrimination tests. In this test, patients are asked to repeat words spoken to them. Often hearing loss begins with the loss of higher frequency sounds, making some words and letters difficult to understand.
• Online hearing test. National Acoustics Laboratories have developed a simple online hearing test that allows older Australians to check their hearing when there is background noise. Patients can use headphones and take the test at home.

Treatment for Hearing Loss in Older Australians

The treatments used for hearing loss in older Australians will depend on the type of hearing loss and the underlying cause of the problem. In some cases, removing a blockage of ear wax is all that is required to improve hearing. This can be achieved using ear drops at home, or by visiting your doctor or an ear specialist. If hearing loss is caused by another issue, it may not be able to be reversed. However, different treatment methods can improve hearing.

Hearing aids are a common tool used by people to manage their hearing problems. The device receives sound through a microphone, converts the sound waves to electrical signals and sends them to an amplifier. The amplifier increases the power of the signals and then sends them to the ear through a speaker. They also filter out background noise and use advanced technology to make speech easier to understand.

Cochlear implants are an option for people with more severe hearing loss. These implants mimic a working cochlea, replacing the function of damaged cells inside the inner ear and directly stimulating the auditory nerve. The implant generates signals which are recognised by the brain as sound.

In some cases, surgery can be used to fix problems such as abnormalities of the eardrum or problems with the bones inside the ear that are responsible for hearing. 

Resources and Support for Hearing Loss in Australian Elderlies

If you or a loved one are experiencing hearing loss, there are many resources and avenues of support available for you in Australia. From information to assist with hearing devices, to places to meet other people with hearing loss, these programs and initiatives are designed to support people living with hearing loss around the country.

• Hearing Australia: For seventy-five years, Hearing Australia has been delivering hearing care to Australians. Their services include helping people find a hearing solution that suits their individual needs, offering ongoing care, hearing aid and other device repairs and maintenance, and counselling and rehabilitation programs. 
• Hearing Services Program: This government program provides free high-quality hearing services and devices to eligible Australians. Older people can access hearing assessments, fully subsidised hearing devices, and further support and hearing services.
• Directory of Hearing Services Program service providers: This local services directory allows people with hearing loss and their loved ones to find providers of hearing services in their city, town or suburb.
• Department of Veterans’ Affairs: For veterans, this program provides hearing support that is not already covered by the Hearing Services Program. Anyone who holds a Veteran Gold Card or Veteran White Card is eligible. 
• National Disability Insurance Scheme: The NDIS is designed to support Australians living with a range of disabilities, including hearing problems. Anyone who is not eligible for the Hearing Services program and who is aged 26 and over can utilise the services of the NDIS, including help paying for hearing devices and accessing support services.
• Deafness Forum of Australia: Deafness Forum advocates for people with hearing loss, with a mission to make hearing health and wellbeing a national priority in Australia. It is the peak body representing people living with hearing loss, and it petitions the government on issues such as financial aid for hearing devices and public campaigns about ear health.
• First Voice: This organisation provides early intervention services for children so that deaf kids can learn to speak and develop language skills to help them through life.
• Next Sense: This organisation provides customised services to help break down barriers for children, adults and families of people with hearing or vision loss.
• Soundfair: Soundfair is a non-profit committed to hearing equality. For ninety years they have worked to improve hearing equality and to make urban, work and personal environments more accessible for people experiencing hearing loss.
• The Shepherd Centre: This child-safe service works with the NDIS to provide specialised programs for children with hearing loss and their families. Their services include early intervention for babies, preschool programs, youth mentoring, and the world leading First Sounds Implant Program.
• National Auslan Interpreter Booking Service: NABS provide interpreters to Deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing people who use sign language. This includes onsite, face-to-face interpreting and video remote interpreting. NABS is also available for people with an NDIS plan.
• National Relay Service: Using a telephone can be difficult or even impossible for people with hearing loss. The National Relay Service allows people to communicate over the phone through the use of specially trained staff who change voice to text and text to voice, or AUSLAN, as required. This helps people with hearing loss to keep in touch with loved ones.

How Homage can Help People with Hearing Loss

The Homage Care Pros are available to help people living with hearing loss so that they can continue to enjoy a high quality of life and keep connected with family and friends. If you have a loved one who is experiencing hearing loss, explore the options for home care and nursing services.

Home Personal Care can ensure that older Australians can continue to live in their own home for longer, experiencing better outcomes in physical and mental health. Professional and compassionate caregivers can assist with self-care, meal preparation, household cleaning and more. 

Home Nursing Care provides qualified nurses that visit older Australians in their homes and assist with simple and complex procedures. They can help people with hearing devices to clean and maintain them as well as ensure they are using them correctly. They can also perform simple ear checks to look for impacted ear wax and other blockages that might be contributing to hearing problems.

Medical Escort Services makes getting to and from medical appointments simple and stress-free, with easy transportation to visit doctors and ear specialists as required. This can be especially helpful for people with hearing loss who may find calling for a taxi or using public transport difficult.

Hearing loss is a common condition that can be caused by problems in the inner and outer ear, as well as the brain. Most older Australians will experience some level of hearing loss, but that doesn’t mean that they cannot continue to enjoy engaging with others and living life to the fullest. With treatment options, hearing aids and devices, and multiple support networks and organisations around Australia, people with hearing loss can access the assistance they need.