Making Sense of Sensory Changes
3. Hear Ye, Hear Ye!
Hearing Changes
Changes in hearing can cause difficulty for older people. Talking may sound muffled because it is more difficult to hear high-pitched consonant sounds like th, sh, s, f, and p, to name a few. Vowel sounds (a,e,i,o,u) are low-pitched sounds, so they are easier to hear.This type of hearing loss makes it difficult to:
- hear in noisy places, such as a restaurant or mall,
- use a telephone,and
- watch television with others because the volume may be too high for people who can hear normally.
Project Skill
- experiencing hearing loss
Life Skill
- relating to others
Materials needed
- "Unfair hearing test" cassette (may be available through
your local Extension office)
- Pen or pencil
What to do
You will be asked to write down ten words that you will hear on the "unfair hearing test" cassette. Make an answer sheet with three columns labled Column A, Column B, and Column C. The first time you hear the words, some of the high pitched sounds will be taken out. This is how words sound to people who have hearing problems. Write your answers in column A.The second time, you will hear the same words. This time, the pitch will be normal, but the volume will be low. Write down the words you hear in column B.
Now you will hear the ten words again. This is what they would sound like if you were wearing a hearing aid. This time, write the words in column C. Good luck! When you are finished, check the answers to the unfair hearing test.
Which column was the most difficult to hear? Why?
Which column was the easiest to hear?
How did you feel during this activity?
How does this activity help you relate to older people in real-life situations?
How can you use what you learned in this activity when you are talking to
an older person?
When you are finished thinking about these questions, go on to the next
activity.