January workshop highlighted the benefits of dealing with hearing loss
Update: Interested in participating in research at the Center for Applied and Translational Sensory Science? You can find a link on the CATSS website to register to be a participant, or you can go directly to the short Research Participation Interest Form to request information about opportunities for participation.
A large and engaged audience attended UMRA’s January Living Well Workshop on hearing loss presented by Liz Anderson, PhD, an audiologist and researcher at the University’s Center for Applied and Translational Sensory Science. Dr. Anderson began by noting that hearing loss is the most prevalent medical condition among adults, experienced by half of those over 75, and said that dealing with hearing loss “is more important than you might think,” because it has been associated with falls, cognitive decline, and social isolation.
By far, the most common type of hearing loss among older adults is sensorineural hearing loss, in which the hair cells that detect sound in the inner ear become flattened and disorganized, leading to less sensitivity. Repeated loud noises and some medications can contribute to this condition, but many of its causes are unknown.
Sensorineural hearing loss is not curable, but it can be greatly helped with hearing aids. Older hearing aids were large, had short battery life, and were prone to annoying feedback. Modern hearing aids have dealt with all these problems, with both behind-the-ear and in-the-ear types becoming sleeker and more svelte. Additionally, many have new electronic capabilities, including Bluetooth streaming from smartphones and other devices, phone apps for adjusting the device, rechargeable batteries, and health monitoring.
Feeling competent and confident
Hearing aids work best when the individual wearing them feels competent operating them in a variety of situations. Training and assistance with adjustments have been shown to increase users’ comfort and confidence in using hearing aids. Those who begin using hearing aids while their hearing loss is still moderate adjust more easily than those who wait until they have severe hearing loss before using them.
Anyone with hearing loss can employ behavioral strategies to improve their communication with others. Dr. Anderson’s tips include:
- Move closer to the person with whom you are talking and face them. Even without lip-reading, seeing a person’s face improves understanding.
- Don’t bluff if you don’t hear something.
- Be specific about what you don’t hear. Don’t just say, “What?” Ask, “What date did you say?”
- In noisy environments, try to move away from the noise. There’s even an app for checking and rating noise levels in restaurants, etc. [Visit soundprint.com to learn more.]
In addition, Dr. Anderson suggested the website Hearing Health Matters as another resource for information on hearing loss and hearing technology.
Acknowledging even mild hearing loss, and proactively dealing with it, through technology or behavioral strategies or both, is likely to lead to a more satisfying interpersonal life than simply ignoring the loss.
—Ron Matross, chair, Workshop Committee
January 2020 workshop: Understanding hearing loss
Tue, January 28 2020, 1:30pm
Dale Shephard Room, Campus Club, Fourth Floor
Peggy Nelson, PhD, and Liz Anderson, PhD, from the U’s Center for Applied and Translational Sensory Science (CATSS), will be the presenters for our January workshop, “Understanding hearing loss: What’s new and what we all should know.”
CATSS focuses on research related to our senses, including vision, hearing, and touch. Dr. Nelson explains:
“In our lab, we simulate challenging listening situations (such as noisy restaurants and group conversations) in order to test technology and strategies to improve listeners’ performance in everyday complex listening environments. In particular we are studying hearing loss, hearing technology, social isolation, and the effects of hearing loss on us all as we age.
“We will present a one-hour workshop on the latest findings regarding aging and hearing loss. In particular, we will focus on:
-what happens to our hearing as we age
-why hearing aids are better than ever—and expensive, but worth it
-examples of new and emerging technologies
-what we’re learning about the social and interpersonal aspects of living with hearing loss
-recommendations for effective technology use and communication strategies for listening in everyday environments.
“You’ll be invited to learn more about CATSS and the latest research. Questions are welcome.”
Upcoming Events
We are fortunate to have UMRA member and former Minnesota Landscape Arboretum director Peter Moe to lead this approximately 3.7-mile hike at the Arboretum on Monday, May 6. Plan to have lunch together after the hike at the Eatery café inside the Oswald Visitor Center.
This session will continue the discussion begun in the May 8, 2023 session. See that article for details.
If you currently live in your own home or apartment, have you looked ahead to when you might want to consider a senior living option? Do you have any idea what those options might be? How much they cost? What they provide? UMRA’s May 14 workshop will provide an overview of the world of senior living and the basic information you need.
You’re invited to join the final Family History Interest Group meeting for 2023–24. This will be an opportunity to ask questions related to family history, share insights, talk about recent projects, and suggest topics for next year.
Stephanie Daily will lead the discussion of Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by best-selling author Mary Roach when the UMRA Book Club meets via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 17.
The May 20 hike will start at the Historic Lift Bridge in Stillwater and go along the river to the new bridge, cross over and then back on the Wisconsin side, a total of approximately 5 miles. Most of the route is paved. We will eat lunch after at Brian's Bar and Grill in Stillwater. Car pooling will be available.
Climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley joined the U of M faculty in 1978 and has been a weekly commentator on Minnesota Public Radio since 1992. We are honored to welcome him as our guest speaker for UMRA’s May Luncheon Forum and 2024 Annual Meeting. He is always entertaining and informative.
UMRA’s Fourth Friday Book Club welcomes back, for the second time, author Julie Schumacher, U of M Regents professor of creative writing and English, for a conversation about her novel The Shakespeare Requirement.
We are in for a treat on June 3! Lynn Anderson, will lead us on trails at two parks near her Monticello home. Bring a bag lunch and we will gather in Lynn's yard along the Mississippi River for eating and socializing after the hike.
Get out to the ballpark with fellow UMRA members for the annual U of M Day at Target Field as the Minnesota Twins take on the Oakland Athletics on June 14 at 7:10 p.m.
Please join us at 9:30 on June 17, 2024 for a walk around Lake Como in St. Paul before attending the UMRA Summer Social and Picnic starting at 11 at the Como Pavilion. A perfect opportunity to get in a walk before we gather to celebrate summer.
Picnic under the covered, open-air Como pavilion, gaze at the water, spy some birds, catch up with friends and former colleagues, and meet new members. We’ll have lunch with plenty of time for visiting and then compete in teams as we are challenged by our Quiz master(s)!
Healthy aging, mindfulness, fighting ageism, and more will be the focus of the third annual Age-Friendly University Day to be held on the U of M Twin Cities campus.