Sound Advice for Aging Ears

"Are you mumbling, or are my ears going?" Although hearing loss is the third leading chronic disability affecting adults, it frequently goes unnoticed, and the person with the hearing problem is often the last one to realize it. Although there may be some sounds you'd prefer to tune out, such as car alarms and infomercials, there are likely many others you wouldn't want to miss, such as those that enable you to chat with your favorite people and enjoy your favorite songs and movies.

That's why, as you get older, it's important to be aware of how your hearing may change, how to assess your hearing accurately, and how to prevent and treat hearing loss. Doing so will help ensure that you stay connected to family and friends and continue to be fully engaged in your daily life, which are key factors in keeping your RealAge young.

A Simple Hearing Self-Assessment

Give your ears a quick check by asking yourself some of the questions that your doctor might ask if he or she were trying to determine if you have a hearing problem. Select yes or no in response to each question below. Answer all of the questions, and if you normally wear a hearing aid, answer the way you hear with the hearing aid.

1. Do you find that family and friends seem to mumble so that you can't fully understand them?
   Yes
   No
   
2. Do you have a difficult time hearing people speak when there is a lot of background noise, such as the chatter of voices; traffic or outdoor noises; or the sound of the radio, music, or TV?
   Yes
   No
   
3. Do you frequently ask people to repeat themselves?
   Yes
   No
   
4. Do people ever mention that you listen to the television or radio with the volume really high?
   Yes
   No
   
5. Do you have trouble hearing people speak on the phone?
   Yes
   No
   
6. Is it difficult to hear when someone speaks softly or in a whisper?
   Yes
   No
   
7. Has anyone ever told you that he or she thinks you may have a hearing problem?
   Yes
   No
   
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