You At Your Best

SpOnSOr COntent Washington Regional Senior Health Clinic's multidisciplinary team includes geriatricians, geriatric nurse practitioners, a neurologist, neuropsychologists and social workers who are specially trained in senior care. With two convenient locations, Washington Regional offers: • Primary care services (ages 70+) • Geriatric consults • Memory Clinic • Movement Disorders Clinic • Education and Outreach Services Televisits now available! Washington Regional Senior Health Clinic (Located in the Pat Walker Center for Seniors) 12 E. Appleby Road Fayetteville, AR 72703 479-463-4444 Washington Regional Senior Health Clinic (Located in the UAMS Schmieding Center) 2422 N Thompson Street Springdale, AR 72764 479-463-4444 www.wregional.com/senior-health/senior-health-clinic Washington Regional Committed to Senior Care We rely on our senses of taste, sight, smell, touch and sound to fully engage in the world around us. Our senses work together to tell our brain what's happening, and when one or more of our senses is diminished, we miss critical information. Two of those senses – vision and hearing – are especially important to care for. "School age children typically receive regular vision and hearing screenings, but we sometimes don't think about it as much as adults until a problem creeps up on us," says Randy Shinn, MD of Washington Regional Senior Health Clinic. "Problems with our sight or hearing can start gradually, so you may not notice it at first." While hearing and vision loss can develop at any age, they can be especially problematic for seniors. "Hearing and vision loss can have long-term impacts on quality of life and overall health," Shinn says. A number of studies indicate vision and hearing loss are associated with an increased risk of depression, cognitive impairment and even dementia. Hearing loss in both ears affects roughly a third of adults age 65 and older and is the third most common chronic condition among the elderly, only behind arthritis and high blood pressure, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. "Hearing loss takes a mental, emotional and social toll that can lead to isolation, depression and anxiety as those who experience it struggle to communicate with their family, friends and caregivers," Shinn adds. If you or a loved one have experienced any of the following, regardless of age, it's time to talk with your health care provider about hearing loss: • Difficulty understanding conversations, especially when there's background noise • Ringing in your ears • Inability to hear high-pitched sounds • Some sounds seem unusually loud or annoying As we age, many of us notice it may be harder to read our phone screens or a restaurant menu. But vision loss can be much more serious. "For many people, it robs them of their ability to enjoy many activities. And when paired with hearing loss, even mild vision problems can make it difficult to read lips and understand what other people are saying," Shinn explains. Conditions such as cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and retinal problems can lead to serious vision loss. "Our eyes are more vulnerable as we age, and some problems can even lead to blindness if left untreated, especially if you have an underlying condition like diabetes," Shinn says. He recommends making an annual vision screening part of your wellness routine and that you get you vision checked immediately if you have any of these symptoms: • Hazy, blurred or double vision • Halos around lights • Pain in or around your eyes • Seeing floating spots or spider webs • Itching, burning, swollen or red eyes • Any sudden change in vision Shinn suggests following some common-sense steps to help protect your hearing and vision. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends wearing sunglasses, not smoking, eating a healthy diet and taking a break from staring at your computer or phone to give your eyes a break. To protect your hearing, wear ear plugs when around loud noises and be sure to monitor the volume on your devices. SafeguarD YOur 3215 N Northhills Blvd. • Fayetteville, AR 72703 • 479-463-1000 • www.wregional.com Senses SunDAY, AuguSt 30, 2020 | September - COme tO YOur SenSeS nWADg.COm/YOuAtYOurbeSt | YOu At YOur beSt | 9

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