Share this story!            

PSYCHOLOGY: Age dulls senses —Humair Hashmi

Due to inhibited sensory functions, aging people tend to become isolated from their surroundings. The resulting physical changes in the body adversely affect self-perception

Philosophers, poets, and writers have lamented how the passage of time takes its toll on a person. Psychologists, too, have noted and observed the impact of time-related changes on the psychology of a person. Some have also commented on how the ravages of time may be delayed, modified or even retarded through psychological responses.

Research shows that with the passage of time, after the age of 30, a person begins to lose height. The major reason for this is the “settling” or “shrinking” of the spine, particularly the vertebrae, shortening a person’s height by one or two inches. Fat deposits in the body increase with age. As a result of both of the above-mentioned changes the overall shape of the body deteriorates. A person becomes shorter, stockier and obese with age.

An increase in body fat leads to the deterioration of muscle tissue, which causes a reduction in physical strength and inability to carry out strenuous regimens. A small physical input can easily tire an aging person, and a task requiring persistent physical input can be exhausting for him.

Another consequence of aging is the loss of calcium — a vital mineral required for strength and maintenance of the bones. A loss of calcium makes the bones fragile and brittle, thus even a small shock may result in bone fracture. This is particularly true of aging women.

There are equally troubling alterations in the overall appearance of a person due to the passage of time. Thinning hair growth, a receding hairline and colour changes in the hair are some of the most prominent age-related alterations in one’s body. Though the loss of hair is more prominent in males, females also suffer from this predicament, particularly after menopause. A person’s skin becomes drier and more wrinkled with age. Wrinkles on the face and hands can cause much consternation, alarm and anxiety. An extensive array of highly marketable products is offered to combat age-related changes of the skin.

All of the sensory organs deteriorate with the passage of time. Research shows that all people above the age of fifty suffer degeneration of auditory nerves and some parts of the inner ear. As a result they experience a considerable loss of hearing acuity.

The number of taste buds on the tongue also decreases with the passage of time, dulling the impact of taste. Everything tastes bland, and older people are often found reminiscing the tasty food of the past. Psychologists should be aware that the loss of taste buds on the tongue might be the real cause of food tasting bland.

The sense of smell also deteriorates with age. One’s nose does not remain as sensitive to olfactory sensations as before. In addition, smokers or those exposed to noxious olfactory stimuli such as chemical factory workers are more likely to suffer a profound deterioration in olfactory acuity.

The lenses of the eyes lose their elasticity as a result of age. The loss in elasticity and loss of relevant muscular strength make it difficult and even impossible to focus the eyes, resulting in blurred images of everyday life. Thus progressively, more light is required with age to decipher between varying images.

Research also shows that the sense of touch deteriorates with the passage of time, as the receptors on the skin do not remain as sensitive as before. All of these changes generally make people less sensitive to various sensory stimuli with ensuing feelings of loss, sadness and unhappiness. Due to inhibited sensory functions, aging people tend to become isolated from their surroundings.

The resulting physical changes in the body adversely affect self-perception. People feel unable to overcome everyday problems, hindrances and crises. The loss in hearing requires an older person to ask people to repeat what they say, and to speak louder. Such constraints may frustrate others and provoke ridicule of older people. The negative reactions of others further undermine a person’s self-confidence, adding to the feeling of helplessness and sadness.

Older people may avoid company to spare themselves the pain of discomforting others. This may lead to a communication breakdown with near and dear ones, adding to isolation. These problems gain a special poignancy in women after menopause. Menopause not only initiates some drastic hormonal changes in women, it also triggers a depressive reaction in them. Women are prone to feel barren and worthless as a result of menopause. These feelings, along with reduced physical capability can be extremely debilitating for aging people.

Research shows that major depressive disorders are twice as common in adult females as compared to adult males. So age related changes could play havoc with the psyche of the aging. Do psychologists have an answer? You bet they do!

Humair Hashmi is a consulting psychologist who teaches at Imperial College Lahore

Home | Editorial

Share this story!