Baby Boomers and Hearing Loss by John M. Burkey
Reviewed by Sylvia Quigley, CHEC
Do you have difficulty understanding speech at a party or other event when there is a lot of loud background noise? If so, you may have hearing loss. According to Burkey, approximately one in three baby boomers will suffer hearing loss: either personally or secondhand through a spouse, friend, or co-worker.
Hearing loss can cause isolation and loneliness, or reduce independence, especially when safety and security are an issue. Concentrating to make sure nothing is misunderstood or missed can be exhausting: all of these can lead to depression. Hearing loss can be especially traumatic for baby boomers because of their high expectations of quality of life, their need to work longer and/or after retirement, and/or it reduces their leisure time and activities.
Before hearing can be corrected, it must be evaluated. Once evaluated, the best solution is identified: surgery, hearing aid or adaptive living. A hearing aid may not be able to correct a hearing loss, but it should improve hearing ability.
Causes of hearing loss are not only limited to rock concerts and loud noises. Knowing what the cause is is necessary before treatment can occur. Because some types of hearing loss cannot be corrected, prevention is very important.
Burkey includes resources and references for further information.
Community Health Education Ctr RF290 .B87 2006 Non-circulating
To view this title or other health-related books visit the Community Health Education Center (CHEC). The CHEC is located on the ground floor of the VCUHS Gateway Building on the MCV campus.