AtlantiCare Ready To Help Kids, Seniors With Hearing Problems

ATLANTIC COUNTY, NJ — The "sandwich generation" - adults caring for their aging parents as well as their own children - is an increasingly stressed demographic, but AtlantiCare is aiming to help with their newly-expanded audiology services.

Adults have a lot on their plates, and the plates are getting fuller. According to the World Health Organization, life expectancy increased 6 years between 2000 and 2019, which means parents in their care are living longer. Moreover, children are remaining at home longer, or returning home. The Pew Research Center reported in July 2022 more than half of adults aged 18 to 29 were living with at least one parent. Emotional stress, financial stress, physical stress—it’s all there.

Where does AtlantiCare’s expanded audiology services for people in Atlantic County and beyond fit into this? Audiology is the area of medicine addressing hearing, balance, and related disorders. Audiologists work to identify causes of hearing loss, proactively prevent related damage, and support patients in implementing changes to enhance their ability to function normally.

Noticing and diagnosing hearing problems can help caregivers prevent everything from poor school performance to accelerated rates of dementia, according to AtlantiCare. It can also mean fewer short- and long-term health, emotional, and socialization concerns, and greater quality of life for kids, parents, and the adults “sandwiched” between them.

Back-To-School

AtlantiCare urges parents and pediatricians to pay attention to cues that a child’s auditory processing—how the ear and brain communicate—may not be functioning properly. It’s estimated that 3-5 percent of school-aged children are impacted by central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) and don’t hear things the way their classmates do. Unfortunately, many circumstances that exist in a classroom—such as multiple people speaking at once, background noises, or visual distractions—can exacerbate the issue. All of AtlantiCare’s audiologists—Elena Ballezzi, Au.D., Danielle Wall, Au.D, Janet Revelle, Au.D., and Holly Reynolds, Au.D.—have worked with children who have CAPD.

If CAPD goes unrecognized and untreated, it can play a significant role in a child’s ability to learn, communicate, socialize and develop as they should.

“Parents and educators must remember there is a big difference between hearing and listening," said Ballezzi. “Children who may be categorized as ‘disinterested in schoolwork’ or ‘distracted in the classroom,’ may have an underlining auditory issue. Instead of asking why a child doesn’t listen to their teacher or do what their teacher asks, it’s better to determine if that child is able to hear all the information and if they understand it. If there is any concern a child may have CAPD, have them assessed by a professional—and the younger they are, the better.”

AtlantiCare reminds parents to be aware of signs that their child may have CAPD, including:

• Frequently mishearing sounds or words
• Struggling to hear in noisy environments, improved listening behaviors in quieter environments
• Trouble distinguishing between similar sounds
• Struggling to follow verbal directions
• Trouble following conversations or “tuning out” during complex conversations
• Challenges with spelling, phonics, verbal math problems, language, or reading

Hearing Aids and Dementia Progression

A recent study reported that in individuals at increased risk of dementia, cognitive decline slowed by nearly 50 percent when hearing aids were introduced. AtlantiCare’s audiologists talk with patients about this almost every day, in addition to other physical and mental health issues that can come from hearing loss. Such issues include anxiety, depression, poor balance, impaired movement, and increased fall risks.

“A huge link exists between cognitive decline and hearing loss,” said Revelle. “Much of this is due to auditory processing changes that occur as we get older. For many, hearing loss is a gradual process that goes unnoticed. An older adult may start to withdraw from certain social situations, causing auditory processing to worsen, which in turn leads to more self-isolation. It’s a snowballing effect that, if detected and cared for early can improve quality of life and help prevent other related issues.”

AtlantiCare shares these signs of auditory process disorder in adults:

• Listening to TV at full volume with continued difficulty understanding
• Challenges with long or phone conversations
• Wanting to listen to others but finding it hard to pay attention
• Difficulty with multi-step directions or multi-tasking in auditory situations
• Trouble remembering names after meeting people
• Difficulty comprehending when there is background noise
• Trouble with reading, spelling, writing

“The key to hearing health is continuity of care throughout your lifetime,” said Revelle. “Engage with a trusted audiologist who can monitor your hearing as you age and adapt your care plan.”

For more information about AtlantiCare Physician Group, Audiology and its comprehensive services, visit atlanticare.org or call 1-888-569-1000.