As people get older, their physical functions will gradually deteriorate. Hearing deterioration is the most common phenomenon. When hearing deterioration occurs, the use of tools such as hearing aids can help the patient to hear properly, so that he or she can communicate with family members and integrate into the society. Delaying hearing deterioration can reduce the prevalence of cognitive impairment by 8%, which means that for every 100 people with cognitive impairment, 8 can be "saved" from suffering from the disease.
In addition, the medical profession is of the opinion that when a person's hearing deteriorates and he/she cannot hear properly, the brain will try to deploy other brain areas to help him/her in order to hear properly, but at the expense of other brain functions, thus increasing the burden on the brain. In addition, if the person can no longer hear, he or she will gradually be unable to communicate with others verbally, and will most likely not want to communicate with family and friends and isolate himself or herself. A life with little socialization and communication will result in a lack of stimulation of the language area of the brain, which will increase the risk of cognitive disorders.
Hearing impairment can be slowed down by hearing aids. In Hong Kong, there are quite a number of grass-roots elderly with hearing impairment who cannot afford to buy hearing aids, resulting in a gradual deterioration of hearing quality, which in the long run will aggravate the Brain Degenerative Disease (BDD). Chan Ying, aged 72, lives alone in Kwai Shing West Estate. In the past two years, she has found her living environment getting quieter and quieter, which makes it a good place for her to retire, but at the same time, she found that the voices around her are getting quieter and quieter, and she finally realized that her hearing is deteriorating.
"I live alone and I seldom talk to people, but only talk to my friends over tea. When I watch TV in my house, I feel that the TV is like a wai-wai land, it is getting quieter and quieter, and I have to turn it up to Sound 40 before I feel that it is a bit loud. Some of my neighbors told me that the TV was so loud that they would hear it when they passed by my house and told me to turn it down in case there was a candle burning outside the house and I would not be able to hear what was happening. But at that time I did not think so, thought they were exaggerating, irrational, until a friend called my house, I heard very hard, he spoke very quietly, and then he came to visit me, found that the TV was turned up to 40, they were worried that I had something in my ear, and advised me to go for a hearing test.
So I went to see a doctor, who suggested that I should get a hearing aid, but when I saw the price, which was over $1,000 to $2,000 at the lowest level, I realized that I had to pay $2,000 to buy a hearing aid! Although I am not on CSSA every month, I don't have any savings and I rely on the Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) for my living, which costs me some $4,000 a month, so if you ask me to pay $2,000 to buy a hearing aid, would I not be able to take it? A friend of mine knew about my difficulties and asked me to try to go to the Hong Kong Society for the Deaf to see if there was any subsidy available. Unfortunately, I was not eligible and could not apply for the subsidy.
I was so happy when I read in the newspaper that the vouchers can be used to buy hearing aids, the vouchers are so helpful, I seldom use the vouchers except for my regular follow up, I have saved up thousands of dollars! It's great that I can use it for other things, it really helps me."
According to some doctors, hearing deterioration may be a precursor to serious diseases such as stroke and degenerative brain disease. According to audiology professionals, hearing deterioration is closely related to cognitive disorders, and the use of hearing aids such as hearing aids is considered a practical way to reduce the risk of cognitive disorders. Therefore, if you have a friend with hearing loss, please advise him/her to wear a hearing aid.
If any of you would like to apply for a hearing aid subsidy, you are welcome to contact us at Sunyu Academy. We will listen carefully to your needs, and we will do our best to help you as long as you are willing to talk to us, and we will be happy to be your back-up.
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