HJNO May/Jun 2024

48 MAY / JUN 2024 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS COLUMN  SENIOR HEALTH DID YOU KNOW that one in three adults over the age of 65 has hearing loss? According to the National Institute on Aging, the chance of developing hearing loss increases as we age. Age-related hearing loss, also known as presbycusis, is the gradual loss of hearing in both ears, and it’s a common problem linked to aging. Johns Hopkins Medicine states that because it’s such a gradual change, some people are not aware of it at first. The most common age-related hearing loss occurs within the inner ear, but it also occurs within the middle ear and along the nerve pathways to the brain. Age-related hearing loss can make it difficult for older adults to communicate and can lead to isolation, depression, and even an increased risk of developing dementia. To better understand the causes of age- related hearing loss as well as find out what we can do to prevent it, I reached out to Melody Benedic Walsh, AuD, CCC- A, a clinical audiologist with the New Or- leans Speech and Hearing Clinic (NOSHC). Walsh has been with the NOSHC since 2009, and aside from working at their Up- town location at 1636 Toledano Street, she also administers hearing tests to children at schools across New Orleans as well as assists residents at Lambeth House at their monthly audiology clinic. With over a de- cade of experience, Walsh was the perfect person to answer a few commonly asked questions regarding age-related hearing loss, prevention, technology, and testing. Age-Related Hearing Loss: What Your Patients Need to Know