Does hearing loss worsen as you age? Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent conditions affecting all adults as they age, but it is a slow process. Half of people older than 75 have difficulty with their hearing, as a matter of fact.
Presbycusis
The slowly developing condition of hearing loss as we age is commonly known as presbycusis. Normally, there will be a variety of elements contributing to this condition.
As we grow older, our ears go through changes. There are tiny hair cells in our inner ear that help us to hear. They detect sound waves and change them into nerve signals that our brain uses to interpret sound.
The onset of hearing loss happens when the hair cells become damaged or destroyed. These hair cells do not restore or grow back, so any hearing loss is permanent.
The following are some causes of hearing loss:
- Hearing loss runs in familiess.
- Hearing loss risk is raised by some medications including chemotherapy drugs.
- Loud noises like going to concerts frequently or working in a setting with consistent loud noise.
- Various medical disorders like diabetes can lead to hearing loss.
- Using headphones when listening to loud music can increase the risk.
- The risk of hearing loss is increased by smoking.
Typical symptoms of age-related hearing loss
When you have difficulty hearing soft voices, kid’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.
Other signs of hearing loss include frequently needing people to repeat what they said, ringing in the ears, and needing to crank the volume up on the TV.
The importance of treating age-related hearing loss
Untreated hearing loss reduces quality of life. Anxiety, depression, sadness, social isolation, compromised relationships, and an increased risk of developing dementia are all ways that untreated hearing loss can have a negative impact on your quality of life.
Rather than dealing with these problems, think about possible treatments, such as hearing aids, sign language for individuals who have severe hearing loss, telephone amplifiers, lip reading, or a cochlear implant.
No one should need to cope with age-related hearing loss. There are ways to take pleasure in your life again.
If you or somebody you love is coping with hearing loss, contact us today to schedule a hearing assessment!
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