Getting Old Ain’t For Sissies

Hearing Loss in Older Americans

Hearing loss is a common problem caused by noise, aging, disease, and heredity. People with hearing loss may find it hard to have conversations with friends and family, and may have trouble understanding a doctor’s advice, responding to warnings, and hearing doorbells and alarms. Approximately one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 has hearing loss, and nearly half of those older than 75 has difficulty hearing.

Older people who can’t hear well may become depressed, or they may withdraw from others because they feel frustrated or embarrassed about not understanding what is being said. Sometimes, older people are mistakenly thought to be confused, unresponsive, or uncooperative because they don’t hear well. It’s difficult to admit to aging and hearing loss, but addressing the issues straight on can change a person’s life.

Hearing problems that are ignored or untreated can get worse. If you have a hearing problem, see your doctor. Hearing aids, special training, certain medicines, and surgery are some of the treatments that can help. Hearing aid technology has advanced lightyears from when we were kids. Who had a grandfather, a neighbor, or a teacher with hearing aids and the huge battery device hanging from the neck. Today hearing aids are so small they can barely be seen by other folk. Most don’t need battery changes because they’re rechargeable. AND they’re not as expensive as they were even a few years ago. Below is a link to an informative website addressing hearing problems in older folk,

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hearing-loss-common-problem-older-adults

Ronnie Self and Bob-A-Lena

Ronnie Self was a rockabilly singer who had one hit, Bop-A-Lena, that made the Billboard charts. The song was released in 1958, and one Friday night my brother and I were getting ready for a Cub Scout meeting and listening to KMYR AM Radio in Denver. The disk jockey played Bop-A-Lena non-stop from 5pm until we left for the meeting, and when we returned, he was still playing Ronnie Self and Bop-A-Lena. Crazy rock and roll rockabilly times in the late 50s. Below is a link to the song,

https://youtu.be/4Q7jPi0gZEU