Is age a factor in the development of hearing loss? Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting all adults as they get older, but it’s a slow process. Actually, over one half of people 75 and older have a hard time hearing.
Presbycusis
Presbycusis is defined as age-related hearing loss or the slow process of hearing loss as we get older. There is 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 pick up sound waves and change them into nerve signals that our brain uses to translate sound.
The onset of hearing loss occurs when the hair cells become 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 causes of hearing loss include the following:
- Exposure to loud sound consistently over long periods of time.
- The risk of hearing loss is increased by frequently listening to loud music, especially with headphones.
- Hearing loss can be the result of numerous medical conditions, including diabetes.
- The risk of hearing loss is raised by smoking.
- Hearing loss risk is raised by certain medications including chemotherapy drugs.
- Hearing loss can be genetics.
Some typical 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 sound, and a general lack of resolution when someone speaks are all symptoms of Presbycusis.
Other signs of hearing loss include regularly asking people to repeat what they said, ringing in the ears, and needing to turn the volume up on the TV.
Dealing with age-related hearing loss is essential
Quality of life will be negatively affected by untreated hearing loss. Untreated hearing loss is linked to depression, sadness, stress, cognitive decline, diminishing social relationships, and the risk of dementia.
Instead of these problems, consider possible treatments, including hearing aids, sign language for those with 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.
Contact us today to schedule your hearing examination and to discuss 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