Does hearing loss worsen as you age? Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting all adults as they age, but it is a gradual process. Half of people over the age of 75 have trouble with their hearing, as a matter of fact.
Presbycusis
Presbycusis is defined as age-related hearing loss or the slow process of hearing loss as we get older. There is no one definitive cause for this to happen, but it is typically considered to be a combo of many factors.
Changes occur in our inner ear as we grow older. There are little hair cells in your ears that detect waves of sound and transmit the signals to the brain to be translated as sound.
When these little hair cells become damaged or destroyed, 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:
- Heredity plays a factor in hearing loss.
- Particular medicines including chemotherapy drugs raise the risk.
- The risk of hearing loss is raised by smoking.
- Certain medical conditions including diabetes can lead to hearing loss.
- Exposure to loud noise frequently over long periods of time.
- Using headphones when listening to loud music can increase the risk.
Common symptoms of age-related hearing loss
Typical symptoms of presbycusis include lack of clarity when people talk, trouble hearing soft voices including children, and trouble hearing when there’s background sound.
Other signs of hearing loss include frequently asking people to repeat what they said, ringing in the ears, and needing to crank the volume up on the TV.
The benefit of dealing with age-related hearing loss
Neglected hearing loss decreases quality of life. Anxiety, depression, despair, social withdrawal, 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.
Rather than dealing with these problems, consider possible treatments, including hearing aids, sign language for individuals with extreme hearing loss, telephone amplifiers, lip reading, or a cochlear implant.
No one should suffer with age-related hearing loss. You can still live a full and enjoyable life.
If you or someone you love is struggling with hearing loss, call 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
