• "In restaurants, it’s difficult to understand my dinner companions over the noise. And I can’t see the menu or the food on my plate because the lights are so dim."
  • "Television is less enjoyable. I can’t see the picture clearly, and my family complains that I have to turn the volume up too high to hear it."
  • "Large gatherings are no longer fun. It’s hard to recognize people and understand what they’re saying."
  • "I know my vision has deteriorated, and now I think my hearing is failing. I’m afraid of becoming deaf and blind."

Many older people share these experiences. The disabling effects of age-related hearing and vision loss can be compounded when an individual accepts sensory loss without seeking treatment. But with proper care, loss of sight can be minimized, delayed or, in some cases, prevented, and the consequences of hearing loss can be reduced.

People with normal hearing can hear and understand the full range of low, middle and high pitched sounds in the environment. In some cases, however, the ability to hear higher pitches can decrease with age. This loss makes it difficult to hear or understand words with certain sounds, reducing a person’s ability to participate fully in conversations and to enjoy television and radio. When untreated, hearing loss can also interfere with the ability to function independently.

Hearing loss due to aging can be compounded by:

  • exposure to loud noises over a lifetime
  • hereditary factors
  • medical conditions such as circulatory problems and chronic allergies

It’s normal for older adults to need glasses and enhanced lighting to see well to perform their daily tasks. But changes in vision may also occur as a result of age-related eye disorders.

The most common are:

  • cataracts
  • glaucoma
  • diabetic eye disease
  • macular degeneration

Cataracts can be treated surgically; and glaucoma and diabetic eye conditions can be treated medically or surgically, while the treatment of macular degeneration remains a challenge. Early intervention may either prevent or stabilize vision loss caused by these conditions.

If permanent vision loss occurs, vision rehabilitation is the key to adaptation. Vision rehabilitation professionals teach older adults how to improve their function in daily activities, how to travel safely and how to use optical devices that maximize remaining vision.

Many people experience both age-related hearing and vision problems, often referred to as dual sensory loss. This combination can be especially difficult to cope with because people tend to compensate for one sensory loss by relying on another — for example, relying on auditory cues to cross the street when vision is impaired, or reading lips when hearing is impaired. As a result, dual sensory impairment can threaten one’s safety and make it difficult to maintain social relationships.

Naturally, older people who have trouble hearing and seeing worry about total loss of their hearing and vision. In the face of this potential reality, it is critical that they seek professional assistance as soon as they become aware of a problem.

It is important for everyone over age 40 to have regular eye examinations by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Older people with hearing problems should consult an audiologist for an accurate hearing assessment and, when necessary, an ear specialist — otologist — for medical diagnosis and treatment. These professionals can evaluate and diagnose sensory impairment and recommend proper treatment. Although some eye and ear conditions respond to medication or surgery, others may not. In these cases, special devices may diminish the impact of hearing and vision loss.

In the case of age-related eye diseases, ophthalmologists and optometrists specially trained in assessing functional vision loss can prescribe low vision devices, such as high-powered spectacles, magnifiers or telescopes, and provide instruction in how to use them.

Age-related hearing impairments can be treated with properly fitted hearing aids or devices specially designed to assist people with specific activities such as listening to the television or conversing over the phone.

Both low vision devices and hearing aids enhance quality of life by enabling people to continue to enjoy their daily activities with the least amount of disruption.

The key to adapting to vision and hearing loss is early intervention: acknowledging the problem and initiating treatment. If you or someone you know is experiencing a problem, it is important to seek help immediately. To find a qualified professional, use the resources listed below, ask friends who have sought and benefited from treatment for vision or hearing loss, or call your family physician.

Lighthouse International

Information and Resource Service

(800) 829-0500

(212) 821-9200

TTY: (212) 821-9713

E-mail:

Vision Resources

American Speech Language Hearing Association

(800) 638-8225

E-mail:

Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH)

(301) 657-2248

TTY: (301) 657-2249

E-mail:

written by

Eleanor E. Faye, MD, and

Barbara Weinstein, PhD

© 1999 Lighthouse International

If this site is still available, it can be found at