Is age a factor in the advancement of hearing loss? Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions impacting all adults as they age, but it is a slow process. Half of people over the age of 75 have difficulty with their hearing, as a matter of fact.
Presbycusis
Presbycusis is defined as age-related hearing loss or the gradual process of hearing loss as we age. There’s no one definitive cause for this occurrence, but it is typically considered to be a combo 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 change them into nerve signals that our brain utilizes to interpret sound.
When these tiny hair cells become damaged or destroyed, hearing loss is the result. These hair cells do not regenerate or grow back, so any hearing loss is irreversible.
Some of the triggers of hearing loss include the following:
- Heredity plays a factor in hearing loss.
- Wearing headphones when listening to loud music can increase the risk.
- Smoking raises the risk of hearing loss.
- Certain medications including chemotherapy drugs increase the risk.
- Hearing loss can be the result of several medical disorders, including diabetes.
- Loud noises such as going to concerts regularly or working in an environment with consistent loud noise.
Some typical symptoms of age-related hearing loss
Common symptoms of presbycusis include lack of clearness when people speak, difficulty hearing soft voices like children, and trouble hearing when there’s background sound.
Other signs of hearing loss include frequently needing people to repeat what they said, ringing in the ears, and needing to turn up the volume on the TV.
Dealing with age-related hearing loss is important
Neglected hearing loss decreases quality of life. Anxiousness, depression, sadness, social isolation, jeopardized relationships, and an increased risk of developing dementia are all ways that neglected hearing loss can have a negative impact on your quality of life.
These problems can, to a great degree, be avoided by having your hearing loss treated with strategies like hearing aids, telephone amplifiers, lip reading, a cochlear implant, or if your hearing loss is extreme, sign language.
No one should suffer with age-related hearing loss. There are ways to take pleasure in your life again.
Consult with 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