If your eyesight deteriorates and you can’t hear the conversation well, like wearing glasses, you should wear hearing aids to manage your teeth and gums. Implant dentures are also an option
Mr. A in his 50s was surprised while talking to his father in his 80s recently. This is because even though A asked about simple well-being such as “Have you eaten” and “How are you feeling?” his father did not answer properly. The mother, who took over the phone, worried, “My father is strangely unable to understand these days.” A, who went to see his parents for Parents’ Day this month, recommended wearing hearing aids.
As you get older, your hearing decreases and you can’t hear the surrounding sound well. This is called ‘hearing’. Hearing loss, the standard for hearing loss, is largely divided into five stages. The level of not hearing small sounds during daily conversations is mild hearing loss (26~40dB), the level of discomfort is moderate hearing loss (41~55dB), and the level of difficulty in conversation itself is medium hearing loss (56~70dB), and the level of hearing loss that requires surgery to improve hearing is high hearing loss (71-90dB) or deep hearing loss (91dB or more).
Among the various hearing loss, elderly hearing loss goes beyond discomfort in life and causes mental diseases such as depression caused by disconnection of conversation, so active treatment is needed. It is typical to wear hearing aids so that the quality of life does not deteriorate.
“In general, people perceive hearing loss as a simple aging phenomenon, not a disease,” said Yeo Seung-geun, an otolaryngology professor at Kyung Hee University Hospital. “Deafness has the characteristic of slow symptoms, so people often think it insignificant.” “If hearing loss is not treated in time, symptoms can get out of control and lead to permanent hearing impairment,” he added. “If you are insensitive to sound or can’t hear well than others, it is important to get a diagnosis through a hearing test.”
When hearing loss due to hearing loss, you will not be able to hear the outside sound, while the sound inside sounds reversely loud. This is called ‘Lee Myung’. About 70% of patients with hearing loss experience tinnitus when they are tired or in poor physical condition. About 50% of tinnitus patients are also accompanied by hearing loss.
Professor Yeo said, “If your vision is poor, you should wear hearing aids to minimize discomfort in your life and prevent worsening symptoms or tinnitus,” adding, “Since hearing aids vary depending on the degree of hearing loss, it is important to consider the patient’s condition and have a period of adaptation so that the brain can fully recognize the sound of hearing aids.”
Hearing aids need to be patient and adapt by gradually increasing the wearing time. Precautions when using hearing aids are similar to glasses. Wear it normally, but it is recommended to take it out when going to bed, going into the water, and washing. In addition, the average service life of hearing aids is 3-7 years, which requires periodic replacement.
Professor Yeo said, “If the sound of the hearing aid is unusual or difficult to hear, you should visit a hospital or hearing center for hearing tests and hearing aid inspection,” adding, “If your hearing is even lower than before wearing it, you should purchase a new hearing aid.” He added, “If the hearing loss persists even when wearing a new hearing aid and the sound amplification is not smooth, it is necessary to consider artificial wow surgery.” Artificial wow surgery refers to transmitting electrical signals to the cochlear canal, stimulating the auditory nerve and allowing sound to be heard.
Hearing aids are weak against moisture, so it is recommended to put them in a storage box containing a moisture remover when not in use. In addition, it should be wiped with a soft cloth after use so that dust or foreign substances do not accumulate. If foreign substances such as earwax enter, it may be difficult to hear or break down, so it is recommended to wipe the outside with a soft brush or cloth and clean the microphone and speaker parts with alcohol.
In addition to hearing aids, dentures are medical devices that are directly connected to the health of the elderly. Teeth and gums are areas where signs of aging appear intact, and many people feel uncomfortable when they lose their original function and consider wearing implants or dentures.
Types of dentures include partial dentures and full dentures. In general, partial dentures have the advantage of being convenient because they have better fixing power than all dentures. However, if the condition of the dentures that can be hung is not good, it is sometimes recommended to pull out the teeth and recommend the entire dentures according to the judgment of the medical staff.
Hong Seong-jin, a professor of prosthetics at Kyunghee University Dental Hospital, said, “The implant dentures, which have recently been in the spotlight, are a method that helps to fix dentures by placing additional implants, and can improve the chewing function compared to existing dentures,” adding, “Even if there are no teeth or only some parts left, all of them can be treated.” “Although it can be used more conveniently than conventional dentures, it is expensive and takes a considerable amount of time to complete the procedure, so patients sometimes feel burdened,” he added.
Patients who have just had dentures complain of gum pain, looseness, and frustration. Gum pain is caused by being swept by dentures and is one of the common symptoms in the early stages. Most of them improve over time. If you feel loose, visit the dentist and adjust it. In some cases, it is important to diagnose the cause of frustration, but in some cases, it may require different methods of re-treatment.
Professor Hong said, “Even if you get dentures, there are still quite a few teeth left, so if you can work to some extent, you can take out dentures and eat food, and you should carefully observe them at home.” “If you don’t wear dentures for a long time, your oral condition may change, which may not fit your dentures, and your chewing function may deteriorate, affecting other diseases.”
Gum bones that have lost teeth are degenerated. As a result, dentures become looser and food gets stuck, irritating the gums, which can cause pain. Dentures can also cause wear, damage, and deformation, so it is necessary to detect and cope with problems early through regular checkups. It is recommended to receive denture checkups frequently until the discomfort disappears, and after the discomfort disappears, you can visit the dentist every six months.
