Hearing in the Elderly in Buddharaksa Moral Community: Understanding, Prevention, and Care through Public Health Rights

Hearing is the first gateway to human connection, especially for the elderly, whose life experience is often a wellspring of wisdom. Yet, age-related hearing loss (Presbycusis) can silently erode communication, emotional well-being, and social participation. This article provides a practical overview of age-related hearing loss in the context of the Buddharaksa Moral Community a community development model integrating spiritual, medical, and civic care. It explores symptoms, stages by age, and diagnostic methods such as audiograms and tympanograms.The article also presents options for hearing aid devices and cost tiers, including analog and digital models, as well as government-supported interventions under Thailand’s universal healthcare (UCS), Social Security (SSS), and Civil Servant Medical Benefits (CSMBS).Community-based initiatives are proposed, including screening campaigns, the use of microphones in temples and local gatherings, and partnerships with subdistrict hospitals and local administration to improve accessibility to hearing aids. Ultimately, the article emphasizes that care for the elderly’s hearing is not just medical it is moral, communal, and deeply human.