Is age a factor in the progression of hearing loss? Hearing loss is a common gradually developing condition that affects all adults. 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 age. There’s no one definitive cause for this to happen, but it is typically considered a combo of many factors.
As we grow older, our ears go through changes. There are tiny hair cells in your ears that pick up waves of sound and communicate the signals to the brain to be translated as sound.
The beginning of hearing loss occurs when the hair cells become damaged or destroyed. These hair cells don’t restore or grow back, so any hearing loss is permanent.
The following are a few causes of hearing loss:
- Heredity plays a factor in hearing loss.
- Loud noises such as going to concerts frequently or working in an environment with continual loud noise.
- Specific medical disorders like diabetes can lead to hearing loss.
- Using headphones when listening to loud music can increase the risk.
- The risk of hearing loss is increased by smoking.
- Hearing loss risk is increased by certain drugs including chemotherapy drugs.
Common symptoms of age-related hearing loss
When you have trouble making out soft voices, kid’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 frequently needing people to repeat what they said, ringing in the ears, and needing to turn the volume up on the TV.
The importance of dealing with age-related hearing loss
Quality of life will be negatively affected by neglected hearing loss. Anxiousness, depression, despair, social withdrawal, compromised relationships, and an increased risk of developing dementia are all ways that neglected hearing loss can have a negative effect on your quality of life.
Rather than dealing with these issues, consider possible treatments, such as hearing aids, sign language for individuals who have extreme hearing loss, telephone amplifiers, lip reading, or a cochlear implant.
Suffering with age-related hearing loss isn’t something that anybody should have to do. There are ways to enjoy your life again.
Consult us today to schedule your hearing examination and to talk about 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
