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.