Columbia Aged Care

Are you worried about having your hearing tested? Would you like to know what all the technical language and scientific tests mean? The HearingCenterOnline.com has provided some easy to understand information so that you will know what will happen when you get your hearing tested.

The Audiologist
An audiologist is a healthcare professional who is trained to identify and measure hearing impairments and related disorders. The audiologist will test your hearing in a number of different ways to determine where the hearing problem is located. At the end of your hearing test they will explain and interpret the results for you.

Your History
The audiologist will ask you some questions about your medical history to help them determine the best way to assist you with your hearing loss. They may ask you if any physical damage has ever occurred to your ears, if you have had past illnesses or if you have been exposed to damaging levels of noise.

The pure tone tests
The pure tone test helps the audiologist determine the degree at which you can hear different frequencies. For this test you will be required to sit in a quiet room with a set of headphones over your ears or with earplugs inserted into your ears. The audiologist will play a series of “pure tones” that vary in tone and volume. You will then be asked to raise your hand or push a button if you hear the tone.

Speech tests
For the speech test you will be required to sit in a quiet room and listen to a series of words. The words should have two syllables and will become quieter during the test. You will be required to repeat each word. This test allows the audiologist to determine the level at which you can detect and understand speech.

The audiologist may need to perform other tests on your ears to help them determine the extent of your hearing loss. At the end of all the tests your results will be displayed on a chart. The audiologist should then explain your results and what the next steps will be in treating your hearing. Remember don’t be afraid to ask questions or have them explain something you don’t understand.

Read the full article here.

First aid kits are an essential to any home, office or car, as accidents do happen.

A handy, easy to access kit is a great idea and should be a basic house hold item – especially in homes with children or elderly people. Livestrong.com has provided a list of items needed within a first aid kit.

The basic items for any first aid kit are:

• Bandages and gauze
• Adhesive tape
• A torch
• Aspirin
• Latex gloves
• Scissors
• A thermometer
• Tweezers
• A blanket

However, when it comes to a first aid kit for seniors there are a couple of additional items that may be needed.

Emergency supplies:
Be sure to include some emergency supplies of all your medications. This will involve the need to check on all expiry dates regularly. Pick a date you know you will remember, such as the day day-light savings changes or perhaps your birthday, and review all of the contents.

Medical Facts:
Include a short list of medial facts about yourself. Include information such as:

• Any allergies
• Doctors name and phone number
• Any important facts about illnesses you have that people need to know about in an emergency situation, such as allergies, asthma or heart problems.

Extras:
Consider adding an extra pair of glasses, hearing aids, hearing aid batteries, batteries for a wheelchair, an asthma puffer or even oxygen if your daily routine requires it. Be sure to carefully think about what daily, weekly, monthly or even yearly things you use and include replacements or extras of these things just in case.

Prepaid Mobile:
You may not own or want to own a mobile phone but they can be particularly handy – especially in an emergency situation. Even if you don’t ever plan to use a mobile phone, it’s a great idea to add a mobile phone, with a prepaid sim card in it, to your first aid kit. Be sure you know how to turn it on, use the key pad and that you can see the screen clearly.

Read the full article here.

As people age many refuse to admit to what they perceive as defeat to ageing senses. 

"Despite the fact smaller text is blurry beyond readability these days I will not succumb to getting glasses. My hearing is fine, just because I can not hear the TV unless it is at maximum volume doesn't mean I need a hearing aid."

Unfotunately these tell tale signs are often the indicator that glasses may be the key to improved vision and a hearing aid may be what's required to improve quality of life. It is not a sign of defeat, it is merely the process of ageing but for many it's still hard to accept.

Esther Hansen has written an article that offers some helpful advice on how to identify whether your loved one might require a hearing aid. She also offers tips on how to broach the subject in 'Does an Elderly Person I  Know Need a Hearing Aid?'

You perceive the unmistakable signs. The volume on the TV is turned up well beyond what is comfortable for the average listener. Conversation is often interrupted by the need for repetition: " What did you say?" "Excuse me?" "Would you say that again, please?" Words go unheard that you fail to address directly to the one for whom they are intended.

All of this is quite obvious to the caring relative or caregiver who begins to take note of the signs. It will be quite normal and natural to discuss the matter at once and to want to ACT! Of course you want to help, but is the person you care about ready for this kind of help? Is he/she prepared to accept the reality of a hearing loss?

If the individual is extremely defensive or angry, it may well be best to drop the subject. Simply having brought it up may be enough for the time being. Some other time the elderly person may be more accepting.

Meanwhile, the would-be helper can also consider a few important questions, like these:
·How much do I know about hearing aid services?
·Have I talked with anyone who seems to be at ease with wearing hearing aids? Where did he get them? Does he trust the audiologist? Is regular, free service provided to the hearing aid user?
·Are the costs involved affordable? Are payment plans available if necessary?
·Can the prospective hearing aid user be trusted to take the simple steps needed to care for them and keep them easily available when not in use?

Careful thought about these questions can make it easier to broach the subject a second time. Ongoing resistance, however, is not unusual. If a person is dead set against it, the question of hearing aids had best be forgotten until a change in attitude is apparent.

To read the full article CLICK HERE