Does hearing loss get worse as you get older? Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent conditions affecting all adults as they age, but it is a slow process. Actually, over one half of individuals 75 and older have trouble hearing.
Presbycusis
The slowly progressing condition of hearing loss as we age is commonly known as presbycusis. Usually, there will be a variety of elements contributing to this condition.
As we age, our ears go through changes. There are little hair cells in our inner ear that help us to hear. They pick up sound waves and translate them into nerve signals that our brain utilizes to translate sound.
The onset of hearing loss takes place 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:
- Heredity plays a role in hearing loss.
- Hearing loss risk is raised by certain medications including chemotherapy drugs.
- Hearing loss can be the outcome of numerous medical disorders, including diabetes.
- The risk of hearing loss is increased by regularly listening to loud music, especially with headphones.
- Exposure to loud noise consistently over long time periods.
- The risk of hearing loss is raised by smoking.
Typical symptoms of age-related hearing loss
When you have a hard time hearing soft voices, children’s voices, voices when there is a lot of background noise, and an overall lack of resolution when somebody speaks are all symptoms of Presbycusis.
Other signs of hearing loss include regularly asking people to repeat what they said, ringing in the ears, and needing to turn the volume up on the TV.
The benefit of dealing with age-related hearing loss
Untreated hearing loss reduces quality of life. Anxiousness, depression, despair, social withdrawal, 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.
These problems can, to a great extent, be avoided by having your hearing loss treated with solutions such as hearing aids, telephone amplifiers, lip reading, a cochlear implant, or if your hearing loss is severe, sign language.
No one should suffer with age-related hearing loss. There are ways to enjoy your life again.
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