WEBVTT - Hearing loss for the elderly

0:00:01.258 --> 0:00:05.090
<v Speaker 1>Health Matters is brought to you by Phonak. Life is on.

0:00:05.949 --> 0:00:07.260
<v Speaker 1>If it's a matter of health,

0:00:07.349 --> 0:00:10.029
<v Speaker 2>it matters. Health Matters

0:00:10.029 --> 0:00:12.510
<v Speaker 1>with Daniel Martin. Welcome into the show, everybody.

0:00:12.590 --> 0:00:14.319
<v Speaker 2>Thank you so much for joining me as I continue

0:00:14.319 --> 0:00:16.690
<v Speaker 2>my series on one of my most favorite senses in

0:00:16.690 --> 0:00:19.509
<v Speaker 2>the world. And that is hearing. Obviously, I work in radio.

0:00:19.590 --> 0:00:21.509
<v Speaker 2>Hearing is a very important sense for a lot of

0:00:21.510 --> 0:00:23.989
<v Speaker 2>people in my industry, but I know how easy it

0:00:23.989 --> 0:00:25.870
<v Speaker 2>is for a lot of people to just say this

0:00:25.870 --> 0:00:28.520
<v Speaker 2>all attache, which is, ah, you're getting older, of course.

0:00:28.674 --> 0:00:31.024
<v Speaker 2>Of course, you're going to lose your hearing. People accept

0:00:31.024 --> 0:00:33.543
<v Speaker 2>it as part of the hearing process. In the first

0:00:33.543 --> 0:00:35.654
<v Speaker 2>part of our discussion last time around, we zoomed in

0:00:35.654 --> 0:00:39.104
<v Speaker 2>on how hearing problems can emerge for younger individuals. What

0:00:39.104 --> 0:00:41.665
<v Speaker 2>about the older individual? That's my focus today as I

0:00:41.665 --> 0:00:44.263
<v Speaker 2>welcome to the show, Hoen Ke, senior audiologist out of

0:00:44.264 --> 0:00:47.705
<v Speaker 2>DS Audiology Private Limited. They're a hearing clinic. This is

0:00:47.705 --> 0:00:50.025
<v Speaker 2>Health Matters, and if you have any questions on hearing health,

0:00:50.064 --> 0:00:51.415
<v Speaker 2>you're welcome to WhatsApp across.

0:00:52.400 --> 0:00:54.599
<v Speaker 2>Thank you. Welcome to the program. Hi there. Hey, hi,

0:00:54.750 --> 0:00:56.529
<v Speaker 2>thank you very much. Good to have you on board.

0:00:56.759 --> 0:00:58.680
<v Speaker 2>I'm curious, like, I'm sure you've heard that as well, right?

0:00:58.759 --> 0:01:01.240
<v Speaker 2>People will be like, of course, you're getting older, it's

0:01:01.240 --> 0:01:03.509
<v Speaker 2>normal to lose a bit of the hearing. Is it

0:01:03.509 --> 0:01:07.848
<v Speaker 2>per se? Um, I think hearing loss is very often,

0:01:08.160 --> 0:01:11.309
<v Speaker 2>you know, in aging, you know, as we age, um,

0:01:11.319 --> 0:01:13.199
<v Speaker 2>we will definitely lose some.

0:01:13.540 --> 0:01:16.599
<v Speaker 2>Um, hearing, but it is usually in a very gradual

0:01:16.599 --> 0:01:19.809
<v Speaker 2>form as well, you know, it's part of the aging process.

0:01:20.440 --> 0:01:23.199
<v Speaker 2>Is it so with the aging process, yes, you're going

0:01:23.199 --> 0:01:26.279
<v Speaker 2>to get potentially some gradual hearing loss, but is it

0:01:26.279 --> 0:01:29.919
<v Speaker 2>always about just aging? No, it's not just always about

0:01:29.919 --> 0:01:34.480
<v Speaker 2>aging because there are other factors that actually contribute to

0:01:34.540 --> 0:01:37.709
<v Speaker 2>You know, hearing loss as well, even in the um

0:01:37.919 --> 0:01:41.429
<v Speaker 2>older population as well. I'll give you some examples. For example,

0:01:41.599 --> 0:01:44.989
<v Speaker 2>one of the causes of hearing loss is actually um

0:01:44.989 --> 0:01:49.559
<v Speaker 2>exposure to loud noises, for example, prolonged exposure. For example,

0:01:49.650 --> 0:01:52.040
<v Speaker 2>some of them, um, maybe in their younger days, they

0:01:52.040 --> 0:01:55.639
<v Speaker 2>have been working in um heavy industries, for example, like.

0:01:55.959 --> 0:02:00.139
<v Speaker 2>The shipping line, for example, like the construction line, and

0:02:00.139 --> 0:02:03.300
<v Speaker 2>if hearing protection was not worn during that time, you know,

0:02:03.459 --> 0:02:06.580
<v Speaker 2>very often, you know, with the exposure, it can actually

0:02:06.580 --> 0:02:09.609
<v Speaker 2>lead to what we call noise-induced hearing loss as well.

0:02:09.740 --> 0:02:12.059
<v Speaker 2>So that's that's one of it. I think the other

0:02:12.059 --> 0:02:15.429
<v Speaker 2>one would be ear infections, um, and then the other

0:02:15.429 --> 0:02:18.009
<v Speaker 2>one would be actually medication as well.

0:02:18.639 --> 0:02:22.110
<v Speaker 2>I give you some examples such as um there are

0:02:22.110 --> 0:02:26.229
<v Speaker 2>certain drugs that are autotoxic in nature, yeah, so when

0:02:26.229 --> 0:02:30.509
<v Speaker 2>we say autotoxic, that means they actually do affect the

0:02:30.508 --> 0:02:33.380
<v Speaker 2>hair cells in the hearing organ as well.

0:02:33.899 --> 0:02:36.610
<v Speaker 2>Here, right, the cilia we're talking about. And so when

0:02:36.610 --> 0:02:38.690
<v Speaker 2>those vibrate sends a signal to the inner ear, blah

0:02:38.690 --> 0:02:40.410
<v Speaker 2>blah blah. But the point is we need that to

0:02:40.410 --> 0:02:42.448
<v Speaker 2>be able to hear well. Yes, correct. So some of

0:02:42.449 --> 0:02:47.799
<v Speaker 2>these um medication might be toxic to these, for example,

0:02:47.970 --> 0:02:49.119
<v Speaker 2>like certain class of

0:02:49.490 --> 0:02:53.919
<v Speaker 2>Antibiotics or certain um chemotherapy drugs. For example, you know,

0:02:54.050 --> 0:02:56.758
<v Speaker 2>like um but then more people would have hearing loss.

0:02:56.770 --> 0:03:00.589
<v Speaker 2>These are quite rare side effects are, yeah, they are not, um,

0:03:00.649 --> 0:03:03.570
<v Speaker 2>I mean, for example, if you, if you have to undergo,

0:03:03.610 --> 0:03:06.538
<v Speaker 2>I'll give you some real examples, for example, if um

0:03:06.538 --> 0:03:12.279
<v Speaker 2>nasopharyngeal cancer, you know, they have to undergo some radiation therapy,

0:03:12.369 --> 0:03:15.329
<v Speaker 2>they have to undergo chemotherapy, and some of these drugs

0:03:15.330 --> 0:03:18.449
<v Speaker 2>actually do affect that as well. So yeah.

0:03:19.399 --> 0:03:21.690
<v Speaker 2>It it does occur, there can be reasons for this

0:03:21.690 --> 0:03:23.889
<v Speaker 2>as well outside of the aging process. Let's zoom back

0:03:23.889 --> 0:03:26.490
<v Speaker 2>to that group where you can expect some hearing loss

0:03:26.490 --> 0:03:28.960
<v Speaker 2>as you age, but like you said, it's gonna be gradual.

0:03:29.288 --> 0:03:32.089
<v Speaker 2>So what are the signs or the symptoms that indicate

0:03:32.089 --> 0:03:34.720
<v Speaker 2>that this would be a gradual loss? OK, for example,

0:03:35.089 --> 0:03:38.690
<v Speaker 2>you know, for some, how do hearing loss actually creep

0:03:38.690 --> 0:03:41.009
<v Speaker 2>up gradually, you know, and what are some of the

0:03:41.009 --> 0:03:45.100
<v Speaker 2>signs um that we can actually see in seniors, for example,

0:03:45.184 --> 0:03:49.434
<v Speaker 2>You find that they have actually difficulty understanding speech, especially

0:03:49.434 --> 0:03:52.875
<v Speaker 2>in the noisy environment. So we use some um day

0:03:52.875 --> 0:03:56.475
<v Speaker 2>to day life experiences. You go to Kia, you know,

0:03:56.634 --> 0:03:58.914
<v Speaker 2>try to talk to your, I try to talk to

0:03:58.914 --> 0:04:02.475
<v Speaker 2>my father, for example, he has some hearing loss. So

0:04:02.714 --> 0:04:05.035
<v Speaker 2>for example, you ask him, dad, you know, what do

0:04:05.035 --> 0:04:07.395
<v Speaker 2>you want to drink, then he doesn't catch you or

0:04:07.395 --> 0:04:10.345
<v Speaker 2>he might misunderstand you. OK, so that's one,

0:04:11.360 --> 0:04:13.919
<v Speaker 2>You find that they would have to frequently ask for

0:04:13.919 --> 0:04:17.359
<v Speaker 2>repetitions as well. For example, I'm so sorry, Sanki, do

0:04:17.359 --> 0:04:21.269
<v Speaker 2>you mind repeating what what do you say just now again? Yeah,

0:04:22.269 --> 0:04:24.600
<v Speaker 2>or they do have, um, but you find that there

0:04:24.600 --> 0:04:27.320
<v Speaker 2>are some behavioral changes. I give you some examples, you

0:04:27.320 --> 0:04:31.239
<v Speaker 2>turn up the volume um on the TV and then

0:04:31.238 --> 0:04:34.760
<v Speaker 2>on the iPad or on their mobile phones, yeah.

0:04:35.220 --> 0:04:38.859
<v Speaker 2>To them, it is soft, but actually to other people

0:04:38.859 --> 0:04:43.769
<v Speaker 2>in the family or people around them it's actually loud. Um,

0:04:44.100 --> 0:04:46.540
<v Speaker 2>some of them would be actually withdrawn as well because

0:04:46.540 --> 0:04:49.039
<v Speaker 2>they find it a bit embarrassing, right? You know, I

0:04:49.040 --> 0:04:51.290
<v Speaker 2>always have to ask you so many times, you know,

0:04:51.459 --> 0:04:54.540
<v Speaker 2>and then the problem is we respond in a very

0:04:55.709 --> 0:04:58.450
<v Speaker 2>Social family way and you'd be like, ah, dad always

0:04:58.450 --> 0:05:02.010
<v Speaker 2>cannot like dad's not paying attention or mom never listens

0:05:02.010 --> 0:05:03.928
<v Speaker 2>or we respond in a very emotional way as opposed

0:05:03.928 --> 0:05:06.010
<v Speaker 2>to it being a physical problem, but we don't, they

0:05:06.010 --> 0:05:09.000
<v Speaker 2>can't tell, we can't tell. And then that causes, you know, people,

0:05:09.089 --> 0:05:11.678
<v Speaker 2>the withdrawal could happen or the social isolation could happen.

0:05:11.769 --> 0:05:14.290
<v Speaker 2>This does happen with hearing loss. Yes, yes. So, so

0:05:14.290 --> 0:05:18.290
<v Speaker 2>in reality, what happens is that I've seen certain cases

0:05:18.290 --> 0:05:22.570
<v Speaker 2>whereby children actually share with us that, um, you know,

0:05:22.890 --> 0:05:24.279
<v Speaker 2>when they go to um

0:05:24.549 --> 0:05:26.899
<v Speaker 2>Maybe they go and eat, they want to ask their parents,

0:05:27.149 --> 0:05:30.350
<v Speaker 2>and then there is a dilemma, the dilemma is that

0:05:30.350 --> 0:05:33.149
<v Speaker 2>if I don't raise my voice, then maybe my dad

0:05:33.149 --> 0:05:35.250
<v Speaker 2>is unable to hear. I raised my voice, he finds that,

0:05:35.630 --> 0:05:37.839
<v Speaker 2>why is so rude, you know, you raising your voice

0:05:37.839 --> 0:05:40.980
<v Speaker 2>talking to me like that. Yeah. So that's that's also

0:05:40.980 --> 0:05:44.230
<v Speaker 2>the other one, and then gradually what happens is that

0:05:44.230 --> 0:05:47.230
<v Speaker 2>you will find that um they might be withdrawn, you know,

0:05:47.269 --> 0:05:50.599
<v Speaker 2>they're not very keen because anyway, it's a bit embarrassing, right,

0:05:50.709 --> 0:05:51.308
<v Speaker 2>over time.

0:05:52.070 --> 0:05:54.849
<v Speaker 2>Um, some of it, some of the other things that

0:05:54.850 --> 0:05:59.279
<v Speaker 2>you realize that they actually do miss a certain soft sounds,

0:05:59.488 --> 0:06:06.040
<v Speaker 2>for example, like birds chirping, like the rain, the rain falling. OK, um,

0:06:06.450 --> 0:06:09.450
<v Speaker 2>this part is in particular because um these sounds, some

0:06:09.450 --> 0:06:13.570
<v Speaker 2>of these sounds are soft, OK. So for example, it

0:06:13.570 --> 0:06:16.529
<v Speaker 2>is raining outside, it might not be pouring or might

0:06:16.529 --> 0:06:17.529
<v Speaker 2>be just drizzling.

0:06:17.809 --> 0:06:20.359
<v Speaker 2>But they don't realize because the raindrops actually are a

0:06:20.359 --> 0:06:23.279
<v Speaker 2>bit softer, yeah, and then it gets annoying if you're

0:06:23.279 --> 0:06:25.000
<v Speaker 2>the kid living in the house like, Oh my God, Mom, Dad,

0:06:25.040 --> 0:06:26.480
<v Speaker 2>it's raining. How come the clothes are still outside, you know,

0:06:26.519 --> 0:06:28.940
<v Speaker 2>that kind of thing like you never notice that we

0:06:28.940 --> 0:06:32.428
<v Speaker 2>respond in an emotional way, but maybe they didn't hear it.

0:06:33.519 --> 0:06:34.988
<v Speaker 2>I always tell our listener I've been hosting this whole

0:06:34.988 --> 0:06:36.570
<v Speaker 2>show for 20 years. I'm like, look, as people get

0:06:36.570 --> 0:06:39.239
<v Speaker 2>older and you're worried about these fights with your older

0:06:39.238 --> 0:06:39.899
<v Speaker 2>loved ones and all that.

0:06:40.899 --> 0:06:43.849
<v Speaker 2>Check out their hearing, their sense of sight, and their

0:06:43.850 --> 0:06:47.540
<v Speaker 2>dental issues as well. The dental can lead to malnutrition

0:06:47.540 --> 0:06:49.940
<v Speaker 2>issues amongst the elderly, the visual issue can lead to

0:06:49.940 --> 0:06:53.219
<v Speaker 2>so many problems like accidents and bumps, and the hearing

0:06:53.220 --> 0:06:55.779
<v Speaker 2>can lead to social isolation or the, the, the root

0:06:55.779 --> 0:06:57.809
<v Speaker 2>of some of these problems where you think it is

0:06:57.809 --> 0:07:01.589
<v Speaker 2>the older person getting slow, but actually they didn't hear it.

0:07:02.070 --> 0:07:03.859
<v Speaker 2>That is so powerful that we have.

0:07:03.950 --> 0:07:07.019
<v Speaker 2>To understand how a health problem can be linked to

0:07:07.019 --> 0:07:09.940
<v Speaker 2>so much more than just a health problem. I want

0:07:09.940 --> 0:07:12.100
<v Speaker 2>to talk about solutions for this. Obviously, for some of

0:07:12.100 --> 0:07:14.929
<v Speaker 2>the more serious, is there always a solution is my point,

0:07:15.820 --> 0:07:18.649
<v Speaker 2>when it comes to hearing loss as one ages. Um,

0:07:18.700 --> 0:07:22.059
<v Speaker 2>there are actually a lot of good solutions out there. Yeah,

0:07:22.179 --> 0:07:23.859
<v Speaker 2>but before we go there, I just wanted to add

0:07:23.859 --> 0:07:26.140
<v Speaker 2>on a particular point that actually you mentioned, which is

0:07:26.140 --> 0:07:27.299
<v Speaker 2>pretty good, actually.

0:07:27.709 --> 0:07:30.989
<v Speaker 2>Um, you mentioned about visual, right? You know, hearing also

0:07:30.989 --> 0:07:34.829
<v Speaker 2>contributes a lot to safety as well. For example, you know,

0:07:34.869 --> 0:07:37.950
<v Speaker 2>if you can't hear the bicycle actually ringing, the bicycle

0:07:37.950 --> 0:07:41.950
<v Speaker 2>is there trying to ring and ring e-biker on the pathway, then,

0:07:42.100 --> 0:07:43.950
<v Speaker 2>then the guy is like, Hey, auntie, why you never like,

0:07:44.269 --> 0:07:45.309
<v Speaker 2>you know, stand on one side.

0:07:45.385 --> 0:07:50.005
<v Speaker 2>You know, yeah, so that actually contributes to um a

0:07:50.015 --> 0:07:54.535
<v Speaker 2>a very great level of awareness to your surroundings and

0:07:54.535 --> 0:07:58.445
<v Speaker 2>to safety as well. Now, going on to solutions, there are,

0:07:58.614 --> 0:08:01.845
<v Speaker 2>there are actually many good solutions out there, for example,

0:08:02.255 --> 0:08:06.214
<v Speaker 2>hearing aids in patients with hearing aids can't address all

0:08:06.214 --> 0:08:07.174
<v Speaker 2>hearing loss.

0:08:07.549 --> 0:08:10.980
<v Speaker 2>But you can address those that are functionally related to

0:08:10.980 --> 0:08:14.600
<v Speaker 2>certain issues, right? Yes, so, so hearing aids won't be

0:08:14.600 --> 0:08:19.540
<v Speaker 2>able to address every single hearing loss, OK, but they

0:08:19.540 --> 0:08:24.290
<v Speaker 2>do actually help out with quite a significant chunk of

0:08:24.290 --> 0:08:27.019
<v Speaker 2>um hearing loss as well. So but there are, I mean,

0:08:27.059 --> 0:08:29.260
<v Speaker 2>aside from hearing aids, there are other solutions such as

0:08:29.260 --> 0:08:32.340
<v Speaker 2>cochlear implants, you know, bone-angle hearing aids, you know.

0:08:32.479 --> 0:08:34.348
<v Speaker 2>This kind of things as well. But is that also

0:08:34.348 --> 0:08:36.588
<v Speaker 2>cause dependent, you should only go for a cochlear implant

0:08:36.588 --> 0:08:39.748
<v Speaker 2>issue if the problem is with the cochlear or can

0:08:39.749 --> 0:08:43.148
<v Speaker 2>address a lot of it can address, um, OK, so

0:08:43.148 --> 0:08:46.789
<v Speaker 2>I give you some examples. For example, if um hearing aids,

0:08:46.898 --> 0:08:50.387
<v Speaker 2>if they no longer are beneficial, you know, even if

0:08:50.388 --> 0:08:53.109
<v Speaker 2>you got the best hearing aid, you know, but to

0:08:53.109 --> 0:08:56.309
<v Speaker 2>a certain extent and certain level, what happens is that

0:08:56.309 --> 0:08:57.299
<v Speaker 2>when the cochlear.

0:08:57.609 --> 0:09:02.988
<v Speaker 2>Um, it's belly damage, OK, and um, hearing its benefits

0:09:02.989 --> 0:09:06.390
<v Speaker 2>are very limited or very little. Now this is one

0:09:06.390 --> 0:09:09.909
<v Speaker 2>of the other solutions would be like cochlear implant. Yeah,

0:09:10.150 --> 0:09:13.229
<v Speaker 2>so this is, this is how actually it helps as well.

0:09:13.849 --> 0:09:16.500
<v Speaker 2>But um the easiest for a lot of people getting

0:09:16.500 --> 0:09:19.359
<v Speaker 2>a referral from the EMT or the um and, and

0:09:19.359 --> 0:09:21.799
<v Speaker 2>learning about the idea of, OK, maybe we'll recommend you

0:09:21.799 --> 0:09:24.010
<v Speaker 2>for a hearing aid. This can work for a majority,

0:09:24.119 --> 0:09:27.640
<v Speaker 2>a lot of hearing loss that is related. My problem and,

0:09:27.679 --> 0:09:29.280
<v Speaker 2>and the thing that I've been talking about this on

0:09:29.280 --> 0:09:30.049
<v Speaker 2>air is.

0:09:30.359 --> 0:09:33.570
<v Speaker 2>The hurdle that an older person might have in terms of,

0:09:33.609 --> 0:09:35.549
<v Speaker 2>oh no, I don't want to wear a hearing aid.

0:09:36.130 --> 0:09:39.359
<v Speaker 2>They feel that it looks a certain way or it

0:09:39.359 --> 0:09:42.289
<v Speaker 2>ages them and they, I don't know, maybe they're still

0:09:42.289 --> 0:09:44.010
<v Speaker 2>thinking of the old fashioned ones that are big and

0:09:44.010 --> 0:09:46.450
<v Speaker 2>pink and behind your ear and that has feedback and,

0:09:46.710 --> 0:09:48.049
<v Speaker 2>and everybody knows that you're wearing it and then you

0:09:48.049 --> 0:09:49.718
<v Speaker 2>have to adjust it all the time, that kind of stuff.

0:09:49.890 --> 0:09:52.010
<v Speaker 2>Things have changed though, right? How, how have you helped

0:09:52.010 --> 0:09:55.679
<v Speaker 2>people adjust to this mental perception that hearing aids are

0:09:56.289 --> 0:09:57.150
<v Speaker 2>very aging?

0:09:57.479 --> 0:10:00.530
<v Speaker 2>OK, I think um the thing about it is

0:10:01.210 --> 0:10:06.260
<v Speaker 2>That um some um older adults, you know, they still resist,

0:10:06.549 --> 0:10:08.510
<v Speaker 2>but I think one of the key things that there

0:10:08.510 --> 0:10:12.260
<v Speaker 2>are a few key factors, for example, like education, like

0:10:13.500 --> 0:10:16.659
<v Speaker 2>um it would be good, you know, as an audiologist

0:10:16.659 --> 0:10:18.789
<v Speaker 2>or even ENT doctor, you know, it would be good

0:10:18.789 --> 0:10:22.289
<v Speaker 2>to actually explain and help them to realize that actually

0:10:22.729 --> 0:10:25.010
<v Speaker 2>In the hearing aid industry or in the hearing aid itself,

0:10:25.159 --> 0:10:28.200
<v Speaker 2>you know, things have changed a lot, you know. Gone

0:10:28.200 --> 0:10:30.429
<v Speaker 2>are the days where I you know it's very big,

0:10:30.619 --> 0:10:33.598
<v Speaker 2>chunky that's hanging behind the ear. Now they are a

0:10:33.599 --> 0:10:38.479
<v Speaker 2>lot smaller, yeah. Are they still behind the ear? Yeah,

0:10:38.719 --> 0:10:41.319
<v Speaker 2>they are still behind the ear, but they can they

0:10:41.320 --> 0:10:42.200
<v Speaker 2>actually do get.

0:10:42.669 --> 0:10:47.169
<v Speaker 2>Now significantly smaller that you actually have to really go

0:10:47.169 --> 0:10:50.200
<v Speaker 2>very close to pay close attention to say that, hey,

0:10:50.450 --> 0:10:52.130
<v Speaker 2>maybe the guy is wearing a hearing aid. So there

0:10:52.130 --> 0:10:53.849
<v Speaker 2>are like small little buds that you just put into

0:10:53.849 --> 0:10:56.530
<v Speaker 2>the ear has a little antenna sticking out that kind

0:10:56.530 --> 0:10:58.650
<v Speaker 2>of thing. That's about it, right? Yes, correct. So those

0:10:58.650 --> 0:11:02.530
<v Speaker 2>are like what we call custom hearing aids, they're really small, um,

0:11:02.549 --> 0:11:05.440
<v Speaker 2>whereby you are able to just put them into the ear.

0:11:06.169 --> 0:11:06.849
<v Speaker 2>So that's one.

0:11:07.219 --> 0:11:09.960
<v Speaker 2>Um, I think the other one is that um it

0:11:09.960 --> 0:11:14.679
<v Speaker 2>is to address actually the stigma that is behind hearing

0:11:14.679 --> 0:11:17.359
<v Speaker 2>aids as well. You know, some of technology has gotten better,

0:11:17.679 --> 0:11:20.760
<v Speaker 2>the big pink one no more. I got earpods, airports,

0:11:20.799 --> 0:11:23.239
<v Speaker 2>all that kind of thing. Obviously the hearing aid is

0:11:23.239 --> 0:11:24.750
<v Speaker 2>the technology is just easier and better.

0:11:25.674 --> 0:11:29.294
<v Speaker 2>It it has moved along, you know, with technological advances.

0:11:29.424 --> 0:11:32.304
<v Speaker 2>Hearing industry has also moved along as well. You know,

0:11:32.385 --> 0:11:35.054
<v Speaker 2>as I was mentioning, um, stigma, you know, for example,

0:11:35.145 --> 0:11:36.664
<v Speaker 2>some of them will be afraid that, you know, other

0:11:36.664 --> 0:11:38.794
<v Speaker 2>people know that I'm actually getting older, you know, I

0:11:38.794 --> 0:11:42.104
<v Speaker 2>got hearing loss, um, or, you know, some of them

0:11:42.104 --> 0:11:46.625
<v Speaker 2>because actually, in fact, um, many of our seniors are

0:11:46.625 --> 0:11:48.695
<v Speaker 2>still working, so they might be worried that, you know,

0:11:48.864 --> 0:11:51.044
<v Speaker 2>they might be maybe people might laugh at them, but

0:11:51.044 --> 0:11:51.875
<v Speaker 2>cue them.

0:11:52.200 --> 0:11:56.049
<v Speaker 2>But I think this is something that as um healthcare professionals,

0:11:56.289 --> 0:12:00.400
<v Speaker 2>especially hearing healthcare professionals, we should help them to understand this.

0:12:00.530 --> 0:12:03.489
<v Speaker 2>It's more OK, so tell us like how it's really

0:12:03.489 --> 0:12:05.010
<v Speaker 2>advanced today. What are some of the new features that

0:12:05.010 --> 0:12:06.848
<v Speaker 2>really set it apart. Last time it used to be

0:12:06.849 --> 0:12:10.049
<v Speaker 2>about amplification, just by amplification, and then unfortunately, you'll see

0:12:10.049 --> 0:12:13.289
<v Speaker 2>in movies things like feedback happening and things like that

0:12:13.289 --> 0:12:15.489
<v Speaker 2>it was a comedic thing which I didn't like.

0:12:15.809 --> 0:12:18.919
<v Speaker 2>But so, so now it's like, wow, Bluetooth connected and

0:12:18.919 --> 0:12:20.390
<v Speaker 2>I mean there's all sorts of things that really happen

0:12:20.390 --> 0:12:23.469
<v Speaker 2>with modern hearing aids, right? So maybe I'll share a

0:12:23.469 --> 0:12:27.309
<v Speaker 2>few um advancements in this field as well. Um, I

0:12:27.309 --> 0:12:30.309
<v Speaker 2>give you some examples. For example, you know, there's the

0:12:30.309 --> 0:12:34.429
<v Speaker 2>buzzword of artificial intelligence, you know, machine learning. Um, this

0:12:34.429 --> 0:12:39.080
<v Speaker 2>is actually also incorporated um in hearing aids as well. No,

0:12:39.229 --> 0:12:40.849
<v Speaker 2>very often what happens is that

0:12:40.965 --> 0:12:46.205
<v Speaker 2>Now hearing aids have the capability to actually do real-time

0:12:46.205 --> 0:12:49.244
<v Speaker 2>environmental analysis. I'll give you some examples. For example, I

0:12:49.244 --> 0:12:52.914
<v Speaker 2>went to the zoo or I went to maybe the classroom,

0:12:53.015 --> 0:12:57.364
<v Speaker 2>you know, hearing aids are able to collect huge amount

0:12:57.364 --> 0:13:01.364
<v Speaker 2>of data points now and then make it um.

0:13:02.039 --> 0:13:05.880
<v Speaker 2>Actually make the algorithm on the programming itself very personalized,

0:13:06.000 --> 0:13:10.750
<v Speaker 2>so you have personalized listening experience and very often now,

0:13:10.840 --> 0:13:14.479
<v Speaker 2>it is also based on your individual preferences and habits

0:13:14.479 --> 0:13:16.728
<v Speaker 2>as well. So what is the AI doing? OK, so

0:13:16.729 --> 0:13:18.478
<v Speaker 2>what happens is that the AI part of it is

0:13:18.479 --> 0:13:21.200
<v Speaker 2>that is scanning the environment, you know, it's trying to

0:13:21.200 --> 0:13:23.280
<v Speaker 2>understand what kind of environment you are in.

0:13:23.650 --> 0:13:27.750
<v Speaker 2>Um, how you can enhance the speech sound while trying

0:13:27.750 --> 0:13:32.549
<v Speaker 2>to dampen and lower the noise. So one of the

0:13:32.549 --> 0:13:35.669
<v Speaker 2>key things about the hearing aid technolog technology is that

0:13:35.669 --> 0:13:41.219
<v Speaker 2>it is the ability to actually differentiate between speech and noise.

0:13:41.599 --> 0:13:45.260
<v Speaker 2>And so for certain, for some manufacturers whereby they have

0:13:45.260 --> 0:13:48.599
<v Speaker 2>dual processing, you know, they're able to process the speech

0:13:48.599 --> 0:13:51.419
<v Speaker 2>and then they're able to process the noise as well. Great,

0:13:51.489 --> 0:13:53.530
<v Speaker 2>because if you're in a quiet environment, great, it'll be

0:13:53.530 --> 0:13:55.010
<v Speaker 2>easy to hear the voice, but if you're in a

0:13:55.010 --> 0:13:57.530
<v Speaker 2>noisier environment, we need to be able to recognize the

0:13:57.530 --> 0:13:59.169
<v Speaker 2>voice and this is going to help us do that.

0:13:59.530 --> 0:14:01.099
<v Speaker 2>This is interesting and also contributes to the safety.

0:14:01.265 --> 0:14:03.244
<v Speaker 2>Point you were talking about just now. You do want

0:14:03.244 --> 0:14:05.853
<v Speaker 2>to hear the things around you like the bicycle whizzing

0:14:05.854 --> 0:14:08.015
<v Speaker 2>near you or something like that. Um, I want to

0:14:08.015 --> 0:14:09.494
<v Speaker 2>end off in the next two minutes. Let's talk a

0:14:09.494 --> 0:14:12.325
<v Speaker 2>little bit about your experience working with some of your clients.

0:14:12.614 --> 0:14:15.974
<v Speaker 2>How can you tell when they're really thriving with the

0:14:15.974 --> 0:14:19.614
<v Speaker 2>utility of, of the hearing aid? OK, so one of

0:14:19.614 --> 0:14:20.914
<v Speaker 2>it is that um

0:14:21.239 --> 0:14:24.320
<v Speaker 2>You know, in hearing it, there's actually um data logging.

0:14:24.409 --> 0:14:26.469
<v Speaker 2>You can actually check the data in the sense that

0:14:26.469 --> 0:14:28.669
<v Speaker 2>how long have you been using it, right? Yeah, so

0:14:28.669 --> 0:14:31.469
<v Speaker 2>you can use that kind of information to actually educate

0:14:31.469 --> 0:14:35.669
<v Speaker 2>them and very often a few things that I would

0:14:35.669 --> 0:14:40.270
<v Speaker 2>say that the sets, hearing it uses a part whereby

0:14:40.270 --> 0:14:42.869
<v Speaker 2>they thrive or they don't thrive. For example, self-efficacy.

0:14:43.179 --> 0:14:46.969
<v Speaker 2>A form of independence, a form of knowing that, you know,

0:14:47.169 --> 0:14:49.849
<v Speaker 2>I am able to handle this alone. I'm able to

0:14:49.849 --> 0:14:53.739
<v Speaker 2>wear the hearing aid, I'm able to adjust using the app,

0:14:53.969 --> 0:14:57.289
<v Speaker 2>you know, and this form of independence, you very often

0:14:57.289 --> 0:14:59.609
<v Speaker 2>see that seniors who are able to do this better,

0:14:59.809 --> 0:15:01.849
<v Speaker 2>they tend to do better with the hearing aids. Now

0:15:01.849 --> 0:15:05.690
<v Speaker 2>the other one would be the social support that comes

0:15:05.690 --> 0:15:06.760
<v Speaker 2>along with it as well.

0:15:07.289 --> 0:15:10.450
<v Speaker 2>Like for example, you go for your appointments and I

0:15:10.450 --> 0:15:13.210
<v Speaker 2>would strongly encourage hearing aid users to follow up with

0:15:13.210 --> 0:15:15.770
<v Speaker 2>your audiologist, be it in the private, be in the

0:15:15.770 --> 0:15:18.960
<v Speaker 2>public hospitals, you know, go with a family member. Why?

0:15:19.289 --> 0:15:22.250
<v Speaker 2>Because sometimes you might forget, oh, I forgot how to

0:15:22.250 --> 0:15:25.650
<v Speaker 2>do this or do that, and you actually have a

0:15:25.650 --> 0:15:29.049
<v Speaker 2>family member there to actually remind you, help you. Then

0:15:29.049 --> 0:15:31.169
<v Speaker 2>the other thing is that how the hearing aids are

0:15:31.169 --> 0:15:33.200
<v Speaker 2>also being properly fitted.

0:15:33.590 --> 0:15:38.260
<v Speaker 2>And going um ongoing um for follow-ups, you know, are

0:15:38.260 --> 0:15:41.719
<v Speaker 2>crucial for success as well. What have they told you

0:15:41.719 --> 0:15:44.239
<v Speaker 2>about how they are thriving? Um, so for example, like, oh,

0:15:44.359 --> 0:15:46.760
<v Speaker 2>now I can, you know, there are less fights. I'm

0:15:46.760 --> 0:15:49.799
<v Speaker 2>I'm talking more with people or I'm going out more.

0:15:49.880 --> 0:15:52.760
<v Speaker 2>Have you heard that? Yes, of course, very often you

0:15:52.760 --> 0:15:56.320
<v Speaker 2>see that people actually use them um well, um, they

0:15:56.320 --> 0:15:58.280
<v Speaker 2>would give this kind of feedback whereby, you know, now

0:15:58.280 --> 0:15:59.200
<v Speaker 2>I do enjoy.

0:15:59.469 --> 0:16:01.969
<v Speaker 2>The kind of communication that I have with my children,

0:16:02.280 --> 0:16:05.719
<v Speaker 2>with my grandchildren, yeah, and then I am now more active.

0:16:05.760 --> 0:16:10.179
<v Speaker 2>I feel more confident going out for social um gatherings

0:16:10.179 --> 0:16:13.630
<v Speaker 2>with my family and friends. Yeah. See that's the power of,

0:16:14.039 --> 0:16:16.239
<v Speaker 2>you see, if you thought what ages you is wearing

0:16:16.239 --> 0:16:19.000
<v Speaker 2>the hearing aid, what actually is aging you is all

0:16:19.000 --> 0:16:20.840
<v Speaker 2>those other things that would happen if you are.

0:16:20.950 --> 0:16:24.260
<v Speaker 2>Experiencing hearing loss, like having asking somebody to repeat themselves,

0:16:24.299 --> 0:16:27.200
<v Speaker 2>like turning the TV volume louder, that is a little bit,

0:16:27.419 --> 0:16:30.169
<v Speaker 2>I mean, it's ironic, right? It's really actually ironic. Thank you.

0:16:30.179 --> 0:16:31.820
<v Speaker 2>This has been very useful. Thank you so much for

0:16:31.820 --> 0:16:34.059
<v Speaker 2>your time today. Thank you very much. Joining us on

0:16:34.059 --> 0:16:36.690
<v Speaker 2>today's edition of Health Matters, uh, has been Hoen Ke,

0:16:36.849 --> 0:16:40.719
<v Speaker 2>senior audiologist from DNS Audiology Private Limited. It's a hearing clinic.

0:16:40.780 --> 0:16:42.289
<v Speaker 2>This is Health Matters.

0:16:47.669 --> 0:16:49.270
<v Speaker 2>Before making any decisions

0:16:49.270 --> 0:16:49.700
<v Speaker 1>based

0:16:49.700 --> 0:16:50.869
<v Speaker 2>on the information in

0:16:50.869 --> 0:16:51.359
<v Speaker 1>our

0:16:51.359 --> 0:16:54.359
<v Speaker 2>program, please consult a medical professional.

0:16:55.450 --> 0:16:59.359
<v Speaker 1>Health Matters is brought to you by Phonak. Life is on.