The ability to see and hear typically are considered important in our ability to live independently, to drive, and to socialize with family and friends. Not only can vision and hearing changes make it more difficult for a loved one to interact socially, leading to isolation and loneliness, but they also may become significant safety issues. Loss of hearing and/or impaired vision can make many day to day tasks more difficult including understanding medical and financial information, hindering the ability to make informed decisions. Not being able to hear doorbells, smoke alarms, and other safety devices in the home or outside can put an older person at significant risk. Impaired depth perception or visual acuity can make varying terrain a fall risk, cooking a safety risk and medication management hazardous. Many vision and hearing losses may be lessened with adaptive aides and devices, assistive technology, and training to maximize use of residual vision and hearing, but there may be reluctance to use the adaptive equipment.
This ACAP program will help adult-children understand various types of vision and hearing losses and their functional impact on daily living, the roles of various professionals who might be involved in diagnosing and treating hearing and vision loss, and examples of aides, devices, technology, and support strategies that may help older adults live independently as they age.
Program Presenter: Melissa Wikoff, Audiologist and Jessica Poggi from the Center for the Visually Impaired
Dr. Wikoff is an audiologist and Founder and Director of Audiology at Peachtree Hearing, LLC.
Jessica Poggi is the marketing director at the Center for the Visually Impaired. She believes strongly in their mission to empower people with vision loss to live with independence and dignity.
