Is age a factor in the advancement of hearing loss? Hearing loss is a common gradually advancing condition that impacts all adults. 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 slow process of hearing loss as we get older. There’s no one definitive cause for this to happen, but it is normally considered to be a combination of many factors.
Changes occur in our inner ear as we age. There are little 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 outcome. Hearing loss that is the consequence of damage to these hairs is permanent as these hairs never restore.
The following are a few causes of hearing loss:
- Hearing loss can be the result of numerous medical conditions, including diabetes.
- Exposure to loud sound consistently over long periods of time.
- Hearing loss runs in familiess.
- Using headphones when listening to loud music can increase the risk.
- Hearing loss risk is increased by certain medications including chemotherapy drugs.
- The risk of hearing loss is increased by smoking.
Some common symptoms of age-related hearing loss
When you have a hard time making out soft voices, children’s voices, voices when there is a lot of background noise, and a general lack of clarity when someone talks are all symptoms of Presbycusis.
Other indicators of hearing loss include regularly asking 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
Quality of life will be negatively impacted by untreated hearing loss. Anxiousness, depression, despair, 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.
These problems can, to a great degree, 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 extreme, sign language.
No one should suffer with age-related hearing loss. There are ways to enjoy your life again.
Consult us today to schedule your hearing test and to go over 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