Does hearing loss get worse as you age? Hearing loss is a common gradually developing condition that impacts all adults. In fact, over 50% of individuals 75 and older have difficulty hearing.
Presbycusis
The slowly advancing condition of hearing loss as we age is commonly known as presbycusis. There’s no one definitive cause for this occurrence, but it is usually considered to be a combo of many factors.
Changes occur in our inner ear as we age. There are tiny hair cells in our inner ear that help us to hear. They detect sound waves and translate them into nerve signals that our brain utilizes to translate sound.
When these tiny hair cells become damaged or die, hearing loss is the outcome. Hearing loss that is the result of damage to these hairs is permanent as these hairs never restore.
The following are a few causes of hearing loss:
- Hearing loss can be the outcome of several medical disorders, including diabetes.
- The risk of hearing loss is increased by smoking.
- Wearing headphones when listening to loud music can increase the risk.
- Hearing loss risk is raised by certain medications including chemotherapy drugs.
- Exposure to loud sound consistently over long time periods.
- Heredity plays a role in hearing loss.
Some typical symptoms of age-related hearing loss
When you have a hard time making out soft voices, children’s voices, voices when there is a lot of background sound, and a general lack of resolution when somebody talks are all symptoms of Presbycusis.
Additionally, raising the TV volume, asking people to repeat what they said, and ringing in your ears can also be signs of hearing loss.
Treating age-related hearing loss is important
Neglected hearing loss reduces quality of life. Neglected hearing loss is connected to depression, despair, anxiety, cognitive decline, poor social relationships, and the risk of dementia.
Instead of these problems, think about possible treatments, including hearing aids, sign language for people who have extreme hearing loss, telephone amplifiers, lip reading, or a cochlear implant.
Struggling with age-related hearing loss isn’t something that anybody should have to do. There are ways to take pleasure in your life again.
Contact us today to schedule your hearing test and to talk about the best treatments for your hearing loss or for someone you love.
References
Older Adults — Hearing Health Foundation
Hearing Loss: A Common Problem for Older Adults | National Institute on Aging (nih.gov)
Seniors and Hearing Loss – American Academy of Audiology