What to do if your parent is hard of hearing

A common joke goes: "Three old guys are out for walk. The first one says, 'Windy, isn't it?' The second one says, 'No, it's not Wednesday, its Thursday!' The third one says, 'I'm thirsty too! Let's go for a drink.'"

In real life, this funny scenario is likely to play out more and more often here, as hearing impairment is related to age, and Singapore is the fastest ageing country in Asia after Japan.

"Hearing loss is common in the elderly; about one in three people older than 60 and half of those older than 85 are significantly hearing impaired," says associate professor Low Wong Kein, senior consultant and director of the Centre for Hearing and Ear Implants at Singapore General Hospital.

Apart from ageing, hearing loss has many other possible causes. Acute or prolonged exposure to noise can cause damage to the cochlea, the body's main and innermost hearing organ.

Could it be simple earwax?

Certain medications may also be culprits. For instance, Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner is said to be going deaf due to his extensive use of Viagra. Antibiotics, diuretics and cancer drugs are more common examples of drugs that can impact auditory function.