"Are you a grandparent who is responsible for young children?"
The current statistics from the Better Hearing Institute are that 1 in 6 baby boomers have hearing loss and 3 in 10 of people over 55 have hearing loss; and seniors in their 70's have a greater than 50 percent incidence of hearing loss. However, keep in mind that these statistics don't tell the whole story. Almost everyone knows at least one person who has a hearing loss that is affecting communications but refuses to acknowledge or do anything about it.
This article was written due to a "real life experience" per a hearing loss patient. A grandpa was babysitting his 3-year-old grandson. The grandson opens the front door and wanders off down the street.
The grandpa was frantically searching for the little boy, when one of his neighbors comes walking down the street with the little boy. The little boy wasn't harmed. The Grandpa went the very next day had his hearing tested and was found to have a moderate-severe hearing loss. He immediately decided to get a hearing instrument. He experienced the true scare of what could have happened to his grandson because he couldn't hear the little boy or him opening the door and going outside.
"How would you feel if this happened to you?"
General safety is a major concern for both the hearing impaired and those left in their care. Children will say and do the darnedest things. If the grandparent can't hear what they are up to, the potential for tragedy is high, especially if there is a swimming pool or other body of water nearby. Children are unpredictable, but one thing that we can predict with confidence is sooner or later, they will get hurt.
The ability to hear is a key component in assuring the safety of your child or grandchild. The risks of not hearing a child crying in the backyard, not hearing a child ask to go outside, not hearing a smoke or carbon monoxide detector, or intruder could be fatal or result in injury. Failure to hear sirens, other traffic, or trying to speech read while driving can cause a crash.
Before leaving your child with a sitter, you are going to investigate them carefully. The grandparents usually get a pass to babysit (even if they don't hear so well) because they love your kids and the kids enjoy spending time with their grandparents. Also, keep in mind, when children know that grandma or grandpa can't hear well then they are also prone to manipulate them. Yes, our sweet little darlings are manipulative.
Hearing poorly doesn't mean your child will not be safe. People with hearing loss who wear hearing aids can be safe caregivers for your children. Many times someone with a hearing loss will know their limitations and take extra steps to ensure that the children aren't in a situation where their hearing loss will endanger them.
People who are denying their hearing loss or the extent of their hearing loss are another story entirely. Make sure that your family member has their hearing tested and they are safe to provide adequate care for your children.
Miracle-Ear offers free hearing evaluation and demonstrations with two locations. Call 984-5250 or 520-4327 for more information.
Local on 03/31/2015