Ways Vision And Hearing Impacts Health Of Older Adults

As people grow old, they often experience a number of changes in their physical, mental and social health with eye and ear changes being very common. Changes to our vision and hearing mostly occur as a result of disease, genetic and environmental factors, and "wear and tear". It's no news that eyes and ears are vital tools for remaining independent as we age since it enables individuals to accurately perceive the world around them, which is often the deciding factor in one's success or failure.

Eye disorders that commonly occurs in seniors:

1.      Cataracts

2.      Glaucoma

3.      Diabetes Retinopathy

4.       Macular Degeneration

Types of hearing loss:

There are two general categories, including sensorineural hearing loss and conductive hearing loss. Talking about the different types: sudden hearing loss, Ringing in the Ears (Tinnitus), Age-Related Hearing Loss (Presbycusis).

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Changes in our eyes and ears as we age:

Eyes- There are many changes in our eyes that take place as a result of age. Firstly, change takes place in the whites of the eyes, or "sclera" due to exposure to ultraviolet light, which mostly includes a yellowing or browning of the white of the eye due to cholesterol or fatty deposits in the conjunctiva. Changes also occur in conjunctiva over a period of time, which often results in dry eye (reduced production of tears). We also experience a decrease in the strength of our muscles with age, it holds true for our eyes as well. Over time, the muscles in our eyelids can become weaker.

Ears- Changes take place in the ears as we grow old, such as ears become bigger, earwax accumulates more easily, there is more cartilage in the external ear canal, stiffening of the eardrum, etc. which all contribute to seniors suffering from hearing loss.

Experts recommend adults 60 years and older get their vision and hearing checked at least once a year if you notice blurred vision, trouble seeing details, less or no accuracy when judging distances and depth, decreased vision during night/low-light situations, difficulty assessing what direction a sound came from, difficulty continuing a conversation because of unclear vision of movement of the speaker's mouth, trouble following a conversation in a crowded or loud environment. You need to be rapid when it comes to bringing these challenges to your physicians so that fast actions can be taken before they significantly impact the ability to live independently.

Impact Of These Changes On Daily Life:

Sensory fidelity is integral to a senior's safety since poor eyesight is cited as a leading factor to many senior falls, hospitalizations, etc.; poor eyesight also limits an individual's travel to a small geographic area; staying updated on medication schedules become extremely tough; last, but not the least social isolation since poor hearing and eyesight acts as an impediment to engage in social activities, thus developing a distance between seniors and those around them.