Fifty percent of Americans over 65 suffer from hearing loss, although it is more common in older men than in older women. Problems can be small (missing certain sounds) or large (not hearing at all). Unfortunately, not many older people with hearing problems visit a hearing specialist or wear a hearing aid. The result is many older people who cannot understand what others are saying.
Hearing loss occurs gradually. One of the first signs to watch for is that the older person turns up the volume on the television. In addition, he or she frequently requests you to repeat yourself or does not clearly understand what you have said. However, when you do repeat yourself in a louder tone, the older person may ask you to stop shouting. This is because the problem is not that you are speaking too quietly but that the older person is having trouble hearing and understanding certain sounds. High-pitched tones may sound fuzzy and certain consonants such as "s," "f," and "t" are not clearly understood.
Infections, certain medicines, and exposure to very loud noises over a long time can lead to hearing loss. However, for the most part, hearing loss in older people is the result of age-related changes in the ear.