Edition 1FRI 08 NOV 2002, Page 012 Elderly find their scene is not heard By Sarah Bryden-Brown MARGARET Robinson can lend you a sympathetic ear if you need to talk about how difficult it is coping as an older person with poor hearing. Robinson is nearing 60 and relies on hearing aids. But as the recently appointed chairwoman of the Deafness Forum of Australia, she knows the devastation of hearing impairment. ``When people lose their hearing they can become isolated and withdrawn and their social network dwindles and then they become depressed,'' says the 57-year-old Melbourne-based psychologist. ``So it's very important for those who have become hard of hearing to learn to speak up for themselves by asking other people to change their behaviour.'' Robinson has retired from full-time work as head of counselling services for RMIT University but still continues in private practice. She helps adults come to terms with life when the volume has been turned down. ``Their main response is to become frightened that they will say something stupid or something someone else has already said. And it is men who have experienced a lifetime of work who cope better than women of my generation, who may not be as assertive.'' Hearing loss occurs naturally as people age, but not everyone is affected. More than 28 per cent of Australians aged 55 and over have some degree of hearing loss but the options for improving your hearing are not as simple as being able to don a pair of specs when your eyesight becomes blurred. Hearing aids do not cope with all situations, especially noisy ones. Robinson advises her clients to visit the government-run Australian Hearing Service which offers free hearing tests and free fitting and supplying of hearing aids for senior citizens. Once a hearing aid has been fitted, Robinson says, it's important people learn how to cope in a social environment. ``My friends know there are certain cafes we just can't go to, especially those with lots of hard surfaces, if I am going to be able to hear what is going on,'' she says. She stresses the importance of being persistent and not embarrassed to speak up when you don't hear what is being said. It's also OK to ask people to change their behaviour, especially in the workplace where conversations can fly across the room, something that people with hearing difficulties find extremely frustrating. ``Sadly, people will put up with being perceived as snobbish, ill at ease and even stupid rather than explain they missed something because they have trouble hearing,'' says Robinson. Caption: Aid: Robinson Illus: Photo Section: FEATURES Type: Series © News Limited. All rights reserved. You may read this article on-screen or print it once for your own personal use. You may not make further copies, forward it by email, post it on an internet or intranet site or make any other use of it without written permission from us at newstext@newsltd.com.au
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