Is age a factor in the development of hearing loss? Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting all adults as they age, but it is a gradual process. In fact, over one half of individuals 75 and older have a hard time hearing.

Presbycusis

The slowly advancing condition of hearing loss as we age is generally known as presbycusis. There’s no one definitive cause for this to happen, but it is normally considered to be a combination of many factors.

Changes occur in our inner ear as we grow older. 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 interpret sound.

The onset of hearing loss happens when the hair cells become damaged or die. Hearing loss that is the result of damage to these hairs is irreversible as these hairs never restore.

The following are some causes of hearing loss:

• The risk of hearing loss is increased by smoking.
• Exposure to loud sound consistently over long time periods.
• Hearing loss runs in familiess.
• Hearing loss can be the outcome of several medical disorders, including diabetes.
• Hearing loss risk is raised by specific medications including chemotherapy drugs.
• Using headphones when listening to loud music can increase the risk.

Typical symptoms of age-related hearing loss

When you have a tough time hearing soft voices, kid’s voices, voices when there is a lot of background noise, and a general lack of resolution when someone speaks are all symptoms of Presbycusis.

Other indicators of hearing loss include regularly needing people to repeat what they said, ringing in the ears, and needing to turn the volume up on the TV.

The importance of managing age-related hearing loss

Neglected hearing loss decreases quality of life. Anxiety, depression, sadness, social isolation, compromised relationships, and an increased risk of developing dementia are all ways that neglected hearing loss can have a negative effect on your quality of life.

Instead of these issues, think about possible treatments, like hearing aids, sign language for those with severe hearing loss, telephone amplifiers, lip reading, or a cochlear implant.

No one should suffer with age-related hearing loss. You can still have a full and enjoyable life.

If you or somebody you love is struggling with hearing loss, contact us today to schedule a hearing assessment!

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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