Celebrate Grandparents Day by scheduling a hearing check-up.
Sunday, Sept. 12 is Grandparents Day, which means it’s a great time for children and grandchildren everywhere to express their appreciation toward grandparents nationwide.
A Grandparent’s Impact
The grandparent-grandchild relationship is an important bond that has a broad range of positive experiences in a child and their elder’s life. Grandparents spend up to $2,300 a year for the benefit of their grandchildren and might provide up to 15% of that grandchild’s childcare while parents work, according to AARP.
The greatest benefit from being a grandparent, or even a surrogate grandparent, is that it keeps grandparents active as they play and connect with their grandchildren, according to Dr. Neha Vyas, a family medicine physician from Cleveland Clinic. Being an involved grandparent brings more meaning to life, as well as also helps lower stress and the potential for depression in later years.
Unfortunately, there is one condition that can hinder the quality of life that grandparents have with their grandchildren: hearing loss.
Tackling Hearing Loss to Improve Relationships
Hearing loss affects millions of Americans each year, which can further impact the relationships that we have with those around us. Common speech patterns — especially higher-pitched sounds, such as that of a child’s voice — are some of the first sounds to disappear with mild to moderate hearing loss.
If a grandparent is unable to understand what their grandchildren are trying to communicate to them, the relationship may suffer. Important memories might be missed out on.
That’s why it’s important to seek help and learn more about hearing loss as soon as possible. Addressing and treating hearing loss—often through using hearing aids—can help.
Untreated hearing loss has been linked to depression, anxiety and feelings of loneliness. Trouble communicating with others often causes people to withdraw socially, which is a well-known risk factor for the development of cognitive decline and common aging conditions such as dementia.
Thankfully, early intervention and regular hearing check-ups can help prepare you for the continued road ahead and ensure that you’re not missing out on vital moments of your grandchild’s life. It’s easy to put off your hearing health, and you might not even realize you are affected because nearly all hearing loss is progressive.
The sooner a loss is diagnosed, the more successful treatment will be, and treatment doesn’t just affect your hearing; it can help you ensure that your relationship with your grandchildren stays strong and memorable for many years to come.
Call our office to schedule an appointment for a hearing check-up and to review your options.
