Things I learned for the first time about hearing and hearing aids
In my third note, I wrote about how I thought my mother-in-law's dementia progressed rapidly due to hearing loss. If you haven't read it, please feel free to do so here.
Then, thankfully, a hearing aid specialist gave me a 'like'! And when I went to read that person's note, there was some very educational information written there.
When I asked if I could introduce it, they kindly gave me permission, so I will post a few parts. Thank you, KUMA3-33!
(From the above note)
When you have hearing loss, you tend to 'pretend to hear'.
Because you don't want to admit that you can't hear, you try to force the conversation to continue, which can sometimes be seen as 'stubbornness'.
And, when you have hearing loss, communication with those around you becomes difficult, and you gradually become socially isolated.
My mother-in-law was exactly this pattern. Even though she couldn't hear, she would only say what she wanted to say, so there were frequent misunderstandings.
(From the above note)
Especially during the first three months, we repeat fine-tuning to aim for optimal hearing. (Omitted) Hearing aids are not just 'sold and finished,' but are a relationship that continues to support your hearing.
Maintaining hearing can significantly prevent dementia
After reading KUMA3-33's article, I learned a lot, and at the same time, I thought that the importance of maintaining hearing should be recognized much more in the world. (There are many articles, so I haven't read them all yet. If you are interested, please read KUMA3-33's note!)
Then, this time, I learned that NHK's 'Ashita ga Kawaru Torisetsu Show' had just broadcast a program like this. Unbelievable. What a coincidence! This program was also very educational. After watching 'How to Protect Your Hearing,' I felt strongly that I should
protect my own ears and my family's ears! Please watch it! There is a rebroadcast on Thursday, July 17th at 12:10 AM
...which means late at night on Wednesday the 16th. If you can watch NHK+, please use your own account from the link below.
https://www.nhk.jp/p/torisetsu-show/ts/J6MX7VP885/episode/te/857V9Q7YPW/
The NHK program was not specifically aimed at elderly people with dementia. It introduced that by starting to use hearing aids at an early stage (the program introduced a man in his 50s) when you feel difficulty hearing, your quality of life will improve significantly.
Of course, good hearing aids are by no means cheap. I also think they are expensive.
But, considering the benefits gained by using them, I feel like I understand now that they are worth the cost.
Previously, when my mother-in-law was recommended hearing aids by an ENT doctor, my son, who accompanied her to the consultation, rebelled, saying, 'That doctor just wants to sell hearing aids (or more accurately, introduce a vendor).'
And so, we decided to 'try an inexpensive model for now because it would be a waste if she didn't use it if we bought an expensive one from the start,' but as a result of letting her use it without proper adjustment, my mother-in-law could not put them on herself, could not adjust the volume, and quickly said, 'I won't use them anymore', which I thought was the worst, most typical pattern.
What if we had the right knowledge at that time?
If we had been able to maintain 'optimal hearing' while having it fine-tuned over the first three months, what if my sons had that knowledge?
As my mother-in-law became less and less able to communicate, my father-in-law would say things like, 'She's just pretending not to hear things that are inconvenient for her.'
I really thought my mother-in-law couldn't hear.
Even my father-in-law regretted it, saying, 'If I had made her wear hearing aids sooner, even if she didn't want to, maybe her dementia wouldn't have gotten this bad.'
I'm not sure about making someone do something they don't want to do, though.
When I started to feel that my mother-in-law's hearing was fading (5 or 10 years ago? Maybe even longer?), if we had the awareness that it's not just 'because she's old' but rather ' if we don't take measures to maintain her hearing now, it will be a disaster,' maybe the situation would have been different.
I don't want a life without music
My mother-in-law is currently in a special nursing home, and when I go to visit her in the evening, music (popular songs) is often playing. Residents who like singing sit near the cassette deck and listen.
Even when I ask, 'Oh, it's a Sachiko Kobayashi song! Can you hear it?', my mother-in-law answers, 'I can't hear it.' It's quite loud, but it seems she really can't hear it.
Naturally, she can't hear the TV either. She can't read the subtitles because she can't see them. I imagine that with this, there's almost no daily joy left.
Provided that one's hearing is maintained, I have heard that even at the moment of death, hearing is the last sense to remain. In dramas, we often see scenes where doctors say, "Please talk to them!" and it seems that is actually true.
It seems my friend's mother had always loved watching Takarazuka performances. (My friend and I are also connected through Takarazuka.) That mother passed away last year, and apparently, she had dementia for about ten years before she died. However, it seems her hearing was still intact, and I heard stories like, "When I go to visit my mother and show her old Takarazuka DVDs,
she hums and sings along with them." And when it came time for the final farewell with her mother, thanks to the hospital's understanding,
they were able to play her favorite Takarazuka songs in the hospital room to see her off. Hearing that, I thought, "That is truly wonderful," and I think it would be the best if I could also be sent off by my favorite music when my time comes. For that, I sincerely feel that I absolutely do not want to lose my hearing
! And I can only hope for my own parents that they live a life where they can hear music until the very end.