5

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mes come

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the problem. Wearinga hearing aid makes it

easier for some people to hear thesounds they need to hear by makingthem louder. Maskers, small devicesthat use sound to make tinnitus lessnoticeable, help other people. Musicalso can be soothing and can sometimes mask the sounds caused bythe condition. It also helps to avoidthings that might make tinnitusworse, like smoking, alcohol, andloud noises.

Conductive hearing loss happens

when something blocks the soundsthat are carried from the eardrum(tympanic membrane) to the innerear. Ear wax buildup, fluid in themiddle ear, abnormal bone growth,a punctured eardrum, or a middleear infection can cause this type ofhearing loss. If ear wax blockage isa problem for you, the AmericanAcademy of Otolaryngology-Headand Neck Surgery suggests usingmild treatments, such as mineraloil, baby oil, glycerin, or commercialear drops to soften ear wax. If youthink you may have a hole in youreardrum, however, you should seeyour doctor.

when talking with someone whohas a hearing problem:✦ Face the person and talk clearly.✦ Speak at a reasonable speed;

do not hide your mouth, eat,or chew gum.

✦ Stand in good lighting and

reduce background noises.

✦ Use facial expressions or

gestures to give useful clues.

✦ Repeat yourself if necessary,

using different words.

✦ Include the hearing-impaired

person when talking. Talk withthe person, not about theperson, when you are withothers. This helps keep thehearing-impaired person fromfeeling alone and excluded.

✦ Be patient; stay positive

and relaxed.

✦ Ask how you can help.What Can I Do if I HaveTrouble Hearing?✦ Let people know that you

have trouble hearing.

✦ Ask people to face you, and

to speak more slowly andclearly; also ask them tospeak without shouting.

6
5

an

can

sen

loss.

ults from

 ear, the

athways

y be

heredity,

s, certain

ulation

d pressure.

aries from

rson can

earing

ccom

g loss,

mes come

tus may

ome other

tus may

ring

other

ergies

nd blood

hy the

medicines may help ease

the problem. Wearinga hearing aid makes it

easier for some people to hear thesounds they need to hear by makingthem louder. Maskers, small devicesthat use sound to make tinnitus lessnoticeable, help other people. Musicalso can be soothing and can sometimes mask the sounds caused bythe condition. It also helps to avoidthings that might make tinnitusworse, like smoking, alcohol, andloud noises.

Conductive hearing loss happens

when something blocks the soundsthat are carried from the eardrum(tympanic membrane) to the innerear. Ear wax buildup, fluid in themiddle ear, abnormal bone growth,a punctured eardrum, or a middleear infection can cause this type ofhearing loss. If ear wax blockage isa problem for you, the AmericanAcademy of Otolaryngology-Headand Neck Surgery suggests usingmild treatments, such as mineraloil, baby oil, glycerin, or commercialear drops to soften ear wax. If youthink you may have a hole in youreardrum, however, you should seeyour doctor.

Here are some tips you can usewhen talking with someone whohas a hearing problem:✦ Face the person and talk clearly.✦ Speak at a reasonable speed;

do not hide your mouth, eat,or chew gum.

✦ Stand in good lighting and

reduce background noises.

✦ Use facial expressions or

gestures to give useful clues.

✦ Repeat yourself if necessary,

using different words.

✦ Include the hearing-impaired

person when talking. Talk withthe person, not about theperson, when you are withothers. This helps keep thehearing-impaired person fromfeeling alone and excluded.

✦ Be patient; stay positive

and relaxed.

✦ Ask how you can help.What Can I Do if I HaveTrouble Hearing?✦ Let people know that you

have trouble hearing.

✦ Ask people to face you, and

to speak more slowly andclearly; also ask them tospeak without shouting.

6
5

an

can

sen

loss.

ults from

 ear, the

athways

y be

heredity,

s, certain

ulation

d pressure.

aries from

rson can

earing

ccom

g loss,

mes come

tus may

ome other

tus may

ring

other

ergies

nd blood

hy the

medicines may help ease

the problem. Wearinga hearing aid makes it

easier for some people to hear thesounds they need to hear by makingthem louder. Maskers, small devicesthat use sound to make tinnitus lessnoticeable, help other people. Musicalso can be soothing and can sometimes mask the sounds caused bythe condition. It also helps to avoidthings that might make tinnitusworse, like smoking, alcohol, andloud noises.

Conductive hearing loss happens

when something blocks the soundsthat are carried from the eardrum(tympanic membrane) to the innerear. Ear wax buildup, fluid in themiddle ear, abnormal bone growth,a punctured eardrum, or a middleear infection can cause this type ofhearing loss. If ear wax blockage isa problem for you, the AmericanAcademy of Otolaryngology-Headand Neck Surgery suggests usingmild treatments, such as mineraloil, baby oil, glycerin, or commercialear drops to soften ear wax. If youthink you may have a hole in youreardrum, however, you should seeyour doctor.

Here are some tips you can usewhen talking with someone whohas a hearing problem:✦ Face the person and talk clearly.✦ Speak at a reasonable speed;

do not hide your mouth, eat,or chew gum.

✦ Stand in good lighting and

reduce background noises.

✦ Use facial expressions or

gestures to give useful clues.

✦ Repeat yourself if necessary,

using different words.

✦ Include the hearing-impaired

person when talking. Talk withthe person, not about theperson, when you are withothers. This helps keep thehearing-impaired person fromfeeling alone and excluded.

✦ Be patient; stay positive

and relaxed.

✦ Ask how you can help.What Can I Do if I HaveTrouble Hearing?✦ Let people know that you

have trouble hearing.

✦ Ask people to face you, and

to speak more slowly andclearly; also ask them tospeak without shouting.

6
11

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www.ata.orgSelf Help for Hard of HearingPeople, Inc. (SHHH)7910 Woodmont AvenueSuite 1200Bethesda, MD 20814Phone: 301-657-2248TTY: 301-657-2249www.shhh.orgLaurent Clerc NationalDeaf Education CenterGallaudet University800 Florida Avenue, NEWashington, DC 20002-3695Phone: 202-651-5000 (voice and TTY)www.clerccenter.galludet.eduFor more information on healthand aging, contact:National Institute on AgingInformation CenterP.O. Box 8057Gaithersburg, MD 20898-80571-800-222-2225 (toll-free)1-800-222-4225 (TTY toll-free)E-mail: niaic@jbs1.com

12

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website is www.nia.nih.gov.Visit NIHSeniorHealth.gov(www.nihseniorhealth.gov), a seniorfriendly website from the NationalInstitute on Aging and the NationalLibrary of Medicine. This simpleto-use websitefeatures popularhealth topicsfor older adults.It has large typeand a ‘talking’function thatreads the textout loud.U.S. Department of Health andHuman ServicesNational Institutes of HealthSeptember 2002Reprinted August 2005
11

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free)

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Phone: 1-800-634-8978 (toll-free)www.ata.orgSelf Help for Hard of HearingPeople, Inc. (SHHH)7910 Woodmont AvenueSuite 1200Bethesda, MD 20814Phone: 301-657-2248TTY: 301-657-2249www.shhh.orgLaurent Clerc NationalDeaf Education CenterGallaudet University800 Florida Avenue, NEWashington, DC 20002-3695Phone: 202-651-5000 (voice and TTY)www.clerccenter.galludet.eduFor more information on healthand aging, contact:National Institute on AgingInformation CenterP.O. Box 8057Gaithersburg, MD 20898-80571-800-222-2225 (toll-free)1-800-222-4225 (TTY toll-free)E-mail: niaic@jbs1.com

12

The National Institute on Agingwebsite is www.nia.nih.gov.Visit NIHSeniorHealth.gov(www.nihseniorhealth.gov), a seniorfriendly website from the NationalInstitute on Aging and the NationalLibrary of Medicine. This simpleto-use websitefeatures popularhealth topicsfor older adults.It has large typeand a ‘talking’function thatreads the textout loud.U.S. Department of Health andHuman ServicesNational Institutes of HealthSeptember 2002Reprinted August 2005
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Phone: 1-800-634-8978 (toll-free)www.ata.orgSelf Help for Hard of HearingPeople, Inc. (SHHH)7910 Woodmont AvenueSuite 1200Bethesda, MD 20814Phone: 301-657-2248TTY: 301-657-2249www.shhh.orgLaurent Clerc NationalDeaf Education CenterGallaudet University800 Florida Avenue, NEWashington, DC 20002-3695Phone: 202-651-5000 (voice and TTY)www.clerccenter.galludet.eduFor more information on healthand aging, contact:National Institute on AgingInformation CenterP.O. Box 8057Gaithersburg, MD 20898-80571-800-222-2225 (toll-free)1-800-222-4225 (TTY toll-free)E-mail: niaic@jbs1.com

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The National Institute on Agingwebsite is www.nia.nih.gov.Visit NIHSeniorHealth.gov(www.nihseniorhealth.gov), a seniorfriendly website from the NationalInstitute on Aging and the NationalLibrary of Medicine. This simpleto-use websitefeatures popularhealth topicsfor older adults.It has large typeand a ‘talking’function thatreads the textout loud.U.S. Department of Health andHuman ServicesNational Institutes of HealthSeptember 2002Reprinted August 2005