There are many different hearing, language, and speech
problems that affect the elderly. By understanding what the symptoms are
seniors can seek SeniorCitizens Services and identify the problem as early as possible.
Hearing difficulties affect many elderly across India. The
most common cause of this is presbycusis which is age-related hearing loss.
This loss of hearing happens slowly, and first results in the difficulty to
hear high-frequency sounds as someone talks. As this condition gets worse,
lower-frequency sounds can become difficult to hear as well. Some of the
symptoms include: difficulty hearing in noisy places, ringing in the ears, and
voices sounding slurred or mumbled. It will also be easier to understand a man’s voice than a woman’s. While there is no cure for
this condition, there are some treatments available with the most common being
hearing aids.
Aphasia is a condition where seniors experience impairment
in language ability. Symptoms may include the inability to understand language,
inability to form words or pronounce words, and inability to read or write.
The major causes of aphasia are strokes and head injuries.
And because of the complex nature of aphasia there is no universal treatment
method. It presents itself differently in patients and, therefore, requires a
team effort in providing a treatment plan. This may include a doctor, social worker,
speech pathologist, psychologist, and occupational therapist. Overall treatment
has been known to create positive outcomes when learning to adjust to these
limitations in communication.
Dysarthria is a disorder that interferes with the normal
production of speech. People who have dysarthria often have challenges with
vocal quality, range, tone, strength in speech, and timing. Causes of
dysarthria include degenerative disease (Parkinson’s, Huntington’s disease, and ALS), embolic
stroke, and traumatic brain injury. Treatment is typically done by speech
pathologists and includes a variety of techniques.
If you notice a change in speech, memory, organisation, or
communication in general than it should be reported to your physician or the
senior’s physician
immediately. These problems can often occur when there is an underlying
problem, so it’s important to
address this as soon as possible.
