Ask A Genius 1217: Ye Olde Hearinge
Author(s): Rick Rosner and Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Ask A Genius
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2024/12/22
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Rick is getting old—what happened?
Rick Rosner: I had my hearing test today at UCLA. They put me in a small, soundproof room with posters about ears and hearing health.
During the test, they measured my ability to hear different frequencies. I could only hear sounds for the higher frequencies when they were turned up to about 65 decibels. That’s classified as significant hearing loss, considering that most people without hearing issues can detect those frequencies at around 20 decibels. Essentially, I need sounds to be amplified significantly, which makes me a candidate for hearing aids.
Jacobsen: How do you feel about that?
Rosner: It’s alright. Hearing aids have come a long way and are now much more affordable. They cost around $3,000 per device at one point, but now you can get a pair for about $1,000. My insurance might even cover part of the cost. They’re also much smaller now and fit entirely inside the ear, so you no longer have those large, noticeable ones that wrap around the ear.
According to my wife and the hearing professionals, untreated hearing loss can eventually cause the brain to lose its ability to process certain sounds. Even if you amplify the sounds later, the brain might be unable to decipher them properly. It’s better to address the issue early to prevent further complications. So, I’ll go ahead and do it.
Jacobsen: Does it feel strange accepting hearing aids?
Rosner: Yeah, I’m getting old. But, as my mom used to say, “It’s better than the alternative.” Given my history, it’s not surprising that my hearing has suffered. I spent years working in loud environments. For example, the first bar I worked at had very low ceilings—in a basement with 8-foot ceilings. Rock bands would bring in amps stacked to the ceiling, and the sound had nowhere to dissipate. My hearing took a beating.
And then there were the Mexican fireworks. When I was a kid, we’d cross the border from El Paso to Juárez to buy fireworks. These were made of folded newspaper packed with gunpowder and had unpredictable fuses. Some were slow, but others were so fast they’d explode right next to your head, leaving you temporarily deaf. It’s no wonder I have hearing deficits now.
Jacobsen: What else has gone wrong with age?
Rosner: Well, I’ve dealt with some health issues. I’ve had dysentery and kidney tumours—twice. Being a hypochondriac probably saved me, as I got MRIs and ultrasounds before any symptoms showed up. Thankfully, they caught the tumours early enough. You don’t want something like that going unnoticed.
The last one was only a centimetre, which is very small for a kidney tumour. They froze it using liquid nitrogen. Unfortunately, they also froze one of my abs in the process. It took about five months, but the ab is finally coming back.
The nerve to the ab seems to have regrown. So that’s good. But, you know, my hair and beard are gray and ghost-like now. My bench press has also suffered—I’ve lost, I don’t know, probably over a third of my strength compared to when I was at my peak in my mid-20s. I’m still strong, but not relative to where I was.
My focus, which was never great initially, has worsened. My distractibility and lack of willingness to sit down and do work seem bad these days. I don’t know if that’s a physical, psychological, or emotional issue. Maybe it’s even a character flaw. Either way, I’ve tried to work around it.
Also, my toenails are awful. I have toenail fungus so bad that a couple of my toenails are almost gone—just eaten away by the fungus. Once you get that, no matter what those “fungus-be-gone” ads claim, you’re not getting rid of it.
On the bright side, my vision hasn’t gotten worse. In some ways, it’s even improved. Once you get older and need reading glasses—which I do sometimes—your nearsightedness can lessen your distance deficit. I’ve been at 3 to 3.5 diopters my whole adult life, and that hasn’t changed for my nearsightedness. I also have a slight astigmatism, which, oddly enough, helps a bit. Since the blur isn’t evenly distributed, I can pick out images within the blur more easily.
For example, I can read things better than you’d expect, especially now that TVs are six feet across. Without contacts, I can still see enough to function. You wouldn’t want me driving at night without my lenses, but I could probably get away with it during the day if I didn’t need to read street signs quickly.
Jacobsen: How’s everything else holding up?
Rosner: Well, my libido is… interesting. My mind wants to beat off more than my body does these days, which is frustrating. I had to get up to pee two or three times a night for a while—not as bad as some people, but still annoying. Then I started taking fisetin, which is supposed to clean out senescent cells. Now, I don’t have to get up as often.
As far as I can tell, I haven’t lost any height yet. Although younger generations are taller, I’m probably relatively shorter compared to today’s population. Physically, I’m not shrinking.
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