A certain amount of hearing loss is a natural result of aging. Every year, people over the age of fifty lose some of their hearing ability. Hearing impairment can result in confusion and embarrassment. Often people who cannot hear well withdraw from social situations because they cannot hear what people are saying. This sometimes causes family members to think this is a result of senility, when, in reality, their family member simply cannot hear what is being said and therefore has trouble interacting with others. Fortunately, there are treatments and unobtrusive hearing aid devices available. Common signs of hearing impairment include difficulty understanding spoken words, difficulty hearing common sounds such as a dripping faucet, and a hissing or ringing noise in the ears. People who have any of these symptoms or who have a family member with any of these symptoms should talk to a hearing professional.
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