Hearing:  Older Adult Perspectives

Dr. Sarah Caldwell, a clinical audiologist in private practice, led a very informative presentation dealing with the latest technological advances in audiology, with a particular focus on hearing isssues for older people. Along the way she covered the physiology of hearing, the measurement of hearing with audiogram reports, the role of all participants in a conversation to make it work well, and even a little advice about video communication in a time of physical isolation for many of us. 

Cochlear Implant and other hearing aids were described and discussed. 

Longevity Explorers from across the country discuss their hearing problems and share their experiences, good and bad, with hearing technology as they continue to seek better solutions.

Saratoga Retirement Community Explorers recite a list of devices they use to get around the problems posed by age-related handicaps in everyday life. Rosalie leads off the discussion with a household item - dishwashing gloves - she wears when opening jars, but she is frustrated by the jar seals often encountered once the lid is off.

Explorer Lynn shares with the  group that her sister in law recently called her to report finding a surprisingly inexpensive pair of hearing aids that she bought over the Internet.

Explorer Steve describes a hearing assist system for large spaces which works with the T-Coil feature in many hearing aids to broadcast directly from a microphone to the wearer's T-Coil enabled hearing aid.

Explorer Steve explains the (hearing loop) type of hearing augmentation equipment, which can be found in some meeting rooms and works with certain types of hearing aids.

Explorer Peg addresses the group about a huge improvement she has found in how well she can hear using a new hearing aid plus "booster".