Does hearing loss get worse as you age? Hearing loss is a common gradually developing condition that affects all adults. Half of people older than 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 get older. There’s no one definitive cause for this to happen, but it is normally considered a combination of many factors.
Changes occur in our inner ear as we get older. There are tiny hair cells in our inner ear that help us to hear. They pick up sound waves and change them into nerve signals that our brain uses to interpret sound.
The onset of hearing loss takes place when the hair cells become damaged or destroyed. These hair cells don’t regenerate or grow back, so any hearing loss is irreversible.
The following are some causes of hearing loss:
- Exposure to loud noise frequently over long time periods.
- Hearing loss can be the result of numerous medical disorders, including diabetes.
- The risk of hearing loss is raised by smoking.
- Heredity plays a factor in hearing loss.
- Using headphones when listening to loud music can increase the risk.
- Hearing loss risk is raised by some medications including chemotherapy drugs.
Common symptoms of age-related hearing loss
Typical symptoms of presbycusis include lack of clarity when people speak, difficulty hearing soft voices including kids, and trouble hearing when there is background sound.
In addition, increasing the TV volume, asking others to repeat what they said, and ringing in your ears can also be indications of hearing loss.
The importance of dealing with age-related hearing loss
Untreated hearing loss reduces quality of life. Neglected hearing loss is connected to depression, despair, stress, mental decline, poor social relationships, and the risk of dementia.
These problems can, to a great degree, be avoided by getting your hearing loss treated with strategies such as hearing aids, telephone amplifiers, lip reading, a cochlear implant, or if your hearing loss is severe, sign language.
No one should need to cope with age-related hearing loss. There are ways to take pleasure in your life again.
Consult with us today to schedule your hearing examination and to discuss the best treatments for your hearing loss or for someone you love.
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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