Does hearing loss get worse as you age? Hearing loss is a common gradually advancing condition that impacts all adults. 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 age. There’s no one definitive cause for this occurrence, but it is usually considered a combination of many factors.
As we age, our ears go through changes. There are tiny 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 translate sound.
The beginning of hearing loss happens when the hair cells are damaged or destroyed. Hearing loss that is the consequence of damage to these hairs is permanent as these hairs never regenerate.
A few of the triggers of hearing loss include the following:
- Loud noises like going to concerts regularly or working in a setting with continual loud noise.
- Using headphones when listening to loud music can increase the risk.
- Hearing loss risk is raised by some drugs including chemotherapy drugs.
- Heredity plays a role in hearing loss.
- Hearing loss can be the outcome of several medical conditions, including diabetes.
- Smoking raises the risk of hearing loss.
Some typical symptoms of age-related hearing loss
Common symptoms of presbycusis include lack of clarity when people speak, difficulty hearing soft voices including children, and difficulty hearing when there is background sound.
Other signs of hearing loss include frequently needing people to repeat what they said, ringing in the ears, and needing to turn up the volume on the TV.
The importance of treating age-related hearing loss
Untreated hearing loss decreases quality of life. Neglected hearing loss is connected to depression, despair, anxiousness, mental decline, diminishing social relationships, and the risk of dementia.
Instead of these problems, consider possible treatments, like 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. There are ways to take pleasure in your life again.
If you or somebody you love is struggling with hearing loss, contact 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
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