Older individuals who are experiencing hearing loss may want to schedule an appointment with the ophthalmologist after they have their hearing tested. According to a study of nearly 2,000 adults with an average age of approximately 70, those with hearing loss were more likely to also have vision loss, and vice versa. It seems that cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the two most common causes of vision loss in older individuals, are both independently associated with hearing loss. Researchers hypothesize that there may be a number of reasons for this link. Both conditions are regular consequences of aging, and both share common risk factors such as smoking, hardening of the arteries, and diabetes.
P.S. According to the study mentioned above, for each line of the eye chart that a study participant could not see, there was an 18% (for the visually impaired) and 13% (for the best-corrected visually impaired) increase in the likelihood of hearing loss.
Approximately one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 have hearing loss and nearly half of those older than 75 have trouble hearing. Hearing loss can make it hard to understand and follow a doctor’s advice, to respond to warnings, and to hear doorbells and alarms. To schedule an appointment, please call EAR & HEARING CLINIC. We are registered members of the College of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists of Ontario. “Hear the Sounds of Life.”
