Hearing loss is very common and affects 30-40% of those between the age of 40 and 60 and more than 50% of those 60 years and older. Unless the hearing loss is a result of injury or trauma it tends to creep in slowly and steadily over time until our parent finds it difficult to follow a conversation or hear the television without turning the volume higher and higher ? all the while the loss goes unnoticed because it was not immediate or sudden.

Your parent?s hearing loss may be the result of many factors including: heredity, exposure to loud noise, cerumen impaction (wax build-up), virus or bacteria, heart conditions or stroke to name a few. Most, if not all hearing impairment is very treatable ? some may improve dramatically with a simple ear flushing.

You may find it helpful to ask these questions published by the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) and the results will help determine if they have a hearing problem and should seek a doctor?s opinion. Generally, answering ?yes? to three or more questions indicates diminished hearing.

Do I have a problem hearing on the telephone?

Do I have trouble hearing when there is noise in the background?

Is it hard for me to follow a conversation when two or more people talk at once?

Do I have to strain to understand a conversation?

Do many people I talk to seem to mumble?

Do I misunderstand what others are saying and respond inappropriately?

Do I often ask people to repeat themselves?

Do I have trouble understanding the speech of women or children?

Do people complain that I turn the TV volume up too high?

Do I hear a ringing or roaring sound a lot?

Do some sounds seem too loud?

Perhaps the most difficult task you will face as an adult child in this instance is encouraging your parent to answer the questions truthfully but also allowing them to speak freely about any fears or concerns they may have related to potential hearing loss. They may be afraid that hearing loss is a debilitating illness from which there is no hope of recovery. Reassure your parent of the many treatment options and encourage them to contact their doctor for further evaluation or allow you to make the call.

We owe it to our parents to do whatever we can to make their quality of life the absolute best possible and having their hearing tested is a painless first step toward regaining their hearing and promoting their independence.

Joanne Robbins has published several articles on a variety of topics. Her most recent project is http://boomer-gear.com for those who have achieved 50+ status.