Ask your audiologist...
Dr. Tia Flynn | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 years, 6 months AGO
How do you know if someone is selectively listening or not? My elderly mother hears me sometimes, but not other times.
First, I would ask you if your mother has been evaluated for hearing loss. If she has hearing loss, is she wearing properly fit hearing aids? If she is hearing at comfortable levels, there may be some other problems, so keep reading. Most people do not selectively listen on purpose.
Everyone needs to realize that there are three parts to be able to hear and understand well: 1. Hearing. 2. Listening. 3. Understanding. Any one person can have difficulty with one or all of these parts.
So let's start with hearing. Some people don't hear well because they have hearing loss. If someone has hearing loss, they should be fit with hearing aids so they have the best chance to be able to hear.
Next is listening. If someone is not listening or paying attention to what is being said, they will not hear or understand it. As we grow older, some of us have shorter attention spans and cannot attend to listening to many things for extended periods of time. If hearing loss is involved, it can be straining and tiring to try to hear if they don't hear well.
Others may have an understanding problem. Some people hear well or hear with hearing aids, but they don't understand all that they hear. If someone has an understanding problem, those around him or her need to do everything they can to help.
For all of the above, it is important to remember that the closer you are to the person with a hearing, listening or understanding problem, the better they will hear. Try not to talk to them with your back turned, around the corner, or in the other room. Never try to converse with background noise like water running or the TV or radio turned on. Try to get the person's attention before talking to them.
Dr. Tia Flynn is a certified audiologist and has been in business for over 14 years. Every Tuesday morning from 9 a.m. to noon, Dr. Flynn provides free hearing screenings at 1601 Third St. in Coeur d'Alene. (208) 664-2767.
Visit our newly updated website www.affordablehearinginc.com for an online hearing test and to watch helpful videos.
ARTICLES BY DR. TIA FLYNN
How long does it take to get hearing aids?
It depends on what style of hearing aid you are purchasing. If you are purchasing one of the new mini BTE’s (Behind the Ear) your hearing health care office may have some in stock that you may take home that day. There are generally two types of mini BTE’s. One is an open fit model, which has a selection of tubes, and tips that can usually fit anyone’s ear shape. The other type is a receiver in the canal, which also has a selection of receivers, and dome tips that can usually fit anyone’s ear shape. Some offices stock these types of aids but you usually have to special order the color that matches your hair.
About age-related hearing loss
Presbycusis is the medical term for age-related hearing loss. Causes of presbycusis include changes within the inner ear (damage to the tiny hair cells that pick up sound), changes in the middle ear (stiffening of the tympanic membrane and ossicles), complex changes along the nerve pathway leading to the brain, and cognitive changes in the brain.
Ask your audiologist: Free hearing help and repairs for the holidays!
Every holiday season I give back to the community by giving away a free pair of digital hearing aids to a deserving individual. I will also provide free in house repairs by appointment and bringing in a copy of this article. Everyone deserves to hear during the holidays! The holidays are usually the most important family gatherings of the year. Many people with hearing loss get left out of family conversations around the dinner table if they do not have hearing aids or if their hearing aid(s) are broken.