Does hearing loss get worse as you age? Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent conditions impacting all adults as they get older, but it is a gradual process. In fact, over 50% of those 75 and older have trouble hearing.
Presbycusis
Presbycusis is defined as age-related hearing loss or the slow process of hearing loss as we get older. Normally, there will be a combination of factors contributing to this condition.
As we get older, our ears undergo changes. There are little hair cells in your ears that pick up waves of sound and communicate the signals to the brain to be interpreted as sound.
When these little hair cells become damaged or destroyed, hearing loss is the outcome. These hair cells don’t restore or grow back, so any hearing loss is permanent.
The following are some causes of hearing loss:
- Certain medical conditions like diabetes can lead to hearing loss.
- Exposure to loud noise consistently over long periods of time.
- Hearing loss risk is increased by specific medications including chemotherapy drugs.
- Heredity plays a role in hearing loss.
- Smoking raises the risk of hearing loss.
- The risk of hearing loss is increased by regularly listening to loud music, particularly with headphones.
Some typical symptoms of age-related hearing loss
When you have a tough time hearing soft voices, kid’s voices, voices when there is a lot of background sound, and an overall lack of clarity when somebody talks are all symptoms of Presbycusis.
Additionally, elevating the TV volume, asking people to repeat what they said, and ringing in your ears can also be signs of hearing loss.
The importance of managing age-related hearing loss
Quality of life will be negatively impacted by untreated hearing loss. Anxiousness, depression, despair, social withdrawal, compromised relationships, and an increased risk of developing dementia are all ways that untreated hearing loss can have a negative effect on your quality of life.
These issues can, to a great extent, be avoided by having 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.
Suffering with age-related hearing loss isn’t something that anybody should have to do. There are ways to take pleasure in 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.
Call Today to Set Up an Appointment
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