Page 149 - Mind Games The Aging Brain and How to Keep it Healthy

Support the Aging Brain • 133

If you You may have
Can hear a whisper at 20 feet No hearing loss

Cannot hear a whisper at 3 feet Moderate hearing loss
Cannot hear a conversational Severe hearing loss
voice 1 foot away
Cannot hear a shout with Profound hearing loss
someone’s mouth
next to your ear

Men usually have more extensive and more rapid hear-
ing loss than women. Women tend to retain their hearing
ability. People who have had to work or live in areas that
expose them to damaging noise levels experience a more
significant loss of hearing as they age. City dwellers and in-
dustrial workers experience greater hearing loss than those
living in rural settings because of the constant exposure to
background noise.
This is the case with Kathleen’s father, Glenn Austin,
whose office was located on the shop floor of an aircraft pro-
duction plant with a constant high-level noise environment.

© Tribune Media Services, 1998. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted
with permission.