Hearing loss, hearing aids and healthy aging: what families should know before communication starts breaking down.
Audiologist Gina Angley joins hosts MB and Roy to explain what hearing loss can actually look like, why speech may sound muffled even when volume seems fine and why people often wait years after noticing a problem before getting help. Gina also breaks down tinnitus, over-the-counter hearing aids, cochlear implants and the importance of a properly verified hearing-aid fitting.
In this episode:
If you or someone you love is struggling to hear conversations, asking for more repetitions or pulling away from social situations, this episode offers a practical place to start.
THE GREY TAKE LISTENER LINE
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Text or Voice: Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics
CHAPTERS
(00:00) Hearing loss, frustration and staying connected
(00:29) Meet audiologist Gina Angley
(00:56) How Gina became an audiologist
(02:04) What an audiologist actually does
(03:10) Early signs of hearing loss
(03:59) Tinnitus and what it can sound like
(05:51) Why hearing loss affects clarity before volume
(06:42) "Normal aging" vs. hearing loss
(07:38) Why people wait years to get help
(08:45) Hearing aid stigma and changing technology
(10:29) Over-the-counter hearing aids: what to know
(12:40) The emotional side of hearing loss
(16:38) How hearing loss affects spouses and family
(18:29) Withdrawal, embarrassment and social isolation
(19:46) Communication tips for families
(20:18) Getting used to hearing aids
(21:33) Real-ear measurements and a proper fitting
(25:09) Hearing loss and cognitive health
(28:12) Earwax, Q-tips and ear cleaning
(29:46) What good hearing care should include
(31:50) Protecting your hearing at concerts and around firearms
(33:29) The cost of waiting to address hearing loss
(34:47) How to talk to a loved one about getting tested
RESOURCES
Brookdale Senior Living — https://www.brookdale.com
Nashville's Hearing & Communication Center on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nashvillehcc
Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) — https://www.hearingloss.org
FDA: Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids — https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/hearing-aids/otc-hearing-aids-what-you-should-know
