Is age a factor in the advancement of hearing loss? Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent conditions affecting all adults as they get older, but it’s a gradual process. 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. Usually, there will be a combination of factors contributing to this condition.
Changes occur in our inner ear as we get older. There are tiny hair cells in your ears that pick up waves of sound and transmit the signals to the brain to be interpreted as sound.
When these little hair cells become damaged or die, hearing loss is the consequence. These hair cells do not regenerate or grow back, so any hearing loss is irreversible.
The following are a few causes of hearing loss:
- Loud noises such as going to concerts regularly or working in a setting with consistent loud noise.
- Various medical disorders including diabetes can result in hearing loss.
- The risk of hearing loss is increased by frequently listening to loud music, particularly with headphones.
- Heredity plays a factor in hearing loss.
- Smoking increases the risk of hearing loss.
- Some medicines including chemotherapy drugs raise the risk.
Common symptoms of age-related hearing loss
Common symptoms of presbycusis include lack of clarity when people speak, difficulty hearing soft voices including children, and trouble hearing when there’s background sound.
In addition, increasing the TV volume, asking people to repeat what they said, and ringing in your ears can also be signs of hearing loss.
Managing age-related hearing loss is important
Untreated hearing loss reduces quality of life. Neglected hearing loss is connected to depression, sadness, anxiousness, mental decline, poor social relationships, and the risk of dementia.
Rather than dealing with these issues, think about possible treatments, like hearing aids, sign language for those who have severe hearing loss, telephone amplifiers, lip reading, or a cochlear implant.
Struggling with age-related hearing loss isn’t something that anybody should have to do. There are ways to take pleasure in your life again.
If you or somebody you love is dealing with hearing loss, call 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