Our ears have these two main functions; allowing us to both hear and maintain our balance. However, throughout the duration of a lifetime, the hearing function of our ears become worn out and less effective. In fact, one of three adults over the age of 65 has a hearing loss and half of seniors over the age of 75 have a hearing loss. Such loss is commonly due to over-exposure to noise, heredity or both.
The signs of hearing loss is normally relatively easy to detect:
1) If you notice everyone sounds muffled.
2) It is difficult to understand words.
3) You request others to speak more slowly, clearly or loudly.
4) Often need to turn up the volume on your TV or radio.
If you suffer from any of the above, combined with a desire to withdraw from conversations or avoid social settings, it is highly likely that you are suffering from a loss of hearing.
Most hearing loss results from damage to the cochlea ( a coiled structure in the inner ear responsible for hearing ). This loss is usually a result of prolonged exposure to loud noises of 85 decibel or higher. A decibel is the unit used to measure degrees of loudness and is often abbreviated to dB.
Other common causes of hearing are:
1) Ear infections.
2) Abnormal bone growths.
3) Tumors of the outer or middle ear.
4) Ruptured ear drums.
Other non-age related causes for deafness include Auditory Neuropathy, Meniere's Disease, Noise Ostosclerosis and Usher's Syndrome.
There are three basic types of hearing loss:
Type # 1 - Conductive Hearing Loss
This occurs when sound is not conducted efficiently to the middle ear, which may be caused by fluid, earwax, infection, foreign matter or malformation of the middle or outer ear.
Type # 2 - Sensorineural Hearing Loss
This condition occurs when there is damage to the inner ear ( cochlea ) or to the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain. Disease, birth injury, drugs or genetic syndromes can also be causes of Sensorineural hearing loss. Additional causes may include noise exposure, viruses, head trauma, aging and tumors.
A person suffering from this type of hearing loss may exhibit a lack of speech comprehension.
Type # 3 - Mixed Hearing Loss
Sometimes a person may suffer from conductive hearing loss combined with a Sensorineural hearing loss. This type of hearing loss is known as mixed hearing loss.
A person can have a loss of hearing in one ear or in both ears. The degree of the severity of hearing loss in each ear may be equal or disparate. The loss of hearing can either occur suddenly or over a long period of time.
Some people suffer from hearing losses that fluctuate and their condition may worsen or improve erratically. This is usually caused by an ear infection causing conductive hearing loss.
If you suspect you have a hearing problem, you should consult your health specialist to get a professional diagnosis and appropriate treatment for your condition.
Senior World of Roanoke
SENIOR WORLD provides a community-based resource for senior citizens, caregivers and interested individuals in Roanoke and throughout Virginia. Information will be found on recreation, transportation, health, long-term care and other local community services. Expanding out of the Valley and over the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Preparing for and living a productive life in retirement:
BOOMERS AND BEYOND EXPO slated for Roanoke
Civic
Center
on Tuesday, September 9 offering services and information for “baby boomers and beyond”
Roanoke,
Virginia
--- The
Roanoke
Civic Center will be the setting for the seventh annual “BOOMERS AND BEYOND EXPO (formerly called “Senior Services Expo”) slated for Tuesday, September 9 from 10 a.m. to
2 p.m.
Admission is free.
“The Expo encompasses a wide audience,” said Kathy Boyd Blackwell, organizer of the event. “We’re gearing our expo to people who are Baby Boomers…50-plus” she said.“Additionally, the expo is designed to serve people who want to proactively anticipate their retirement, people who are care-givers and children with aging parents,” said Blackwell.
This event serves
Roanoke
, the
New River
Valley
,
Smith
Mountain
Lake
and surrounding counties. “Awareness of what goods and services are available is what we’re all about,” said Blackwell. Educational demonstrations will be provided.
More than 100 exhibitors will be participating including: health and wellness, health care representatives; long-term care experts; insurance agents, estate planning and retirement planning managers, chiropractic providers, skin care specialists, home care experts, day care facilitators, the Social Security Administration, real estate advisors, and many more.
The event is sponsored by: Home Instead Senior Care along with the following Associate Sponsors, Amedisys Home Health, Carilion Home Care & Hospice, Friendship Retirement Community, Humana, Jefferson Surgical Clinic, Lotz Funeral Services, Richfield Retirement, Senior News, and VA Premier Health Plan.
A portion of proceeds will benefit the Roanoke Regional Alzheimer’s Association. Roanoke
Civic
Center
will have their concession open for quick sandwiches, snacks and beverages.
For complete details, contact Kathy Boyd Blackwell, of Kathy and Company, at 540-520-2334 or via FAX: 540-745-4640 Email: kgboyd@swva.net.
Community Events
Upcoming Community Events
Sept. 9th, 2008
BOOMERS & BEYOND EXPO
ROANOKE CIVIC CENTER
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
---------------------------------
“Star Stitchers, a
Roanoke
chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America is opening 2 new satellite groups.
Beginning is September, a new group will meet at the Rockbridge County Library in
Lexington
on the 2nd Thursdays of the month from 7-9pm and beginning in October, a new group will meet at the Christiansburg Library on the 1st Thursdays of the month from 6-8pm. The regular meetings of the Star Stitchers are the 2nd Saturday at 10am at the 419
Roanoke
County Library and the 3rd Monday at 10am at the Moneta library at
Smith
Mountain
Lake
.
The groups are open to the public and offer meetings and classes in embroidery, needlework, quilting, and beading. Meetings are informative and fun.
