Is age a factor in the progression of hearing loss? Hearing loss is a common slowly developing condition that affects 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 gradual process of hearing loss as we get older. There is no one definitive cause for this to happen, but it is usually considered a combo of many factors.
Changes occur in our inner ear as we grow older. There are tiny hair cells in your ears that detect waves of sound and communicate the signals to the brain to be translated as sound.
The onset of hearing loss happens when the hair cells become damaged or destroyed. Hearing loss that is the result of damage to these hairs is irreversible as these hairs never regenerate.
Some of the triggers of hearing loss include the following:
- Hearing loss runs in familiess.
- The risk of hearing loss is raised by smoking.
- Certain medical conditions like diabetes can result in hearing loss.
- Wearing headphones when listening to loud music can increase the risk.
- Exposure to loud noise frequently over long periods of time.
- Hearing loss risk is raised by certain medications including chemotherapy drugs.
Typical symptoms of age-related hearing loss
When you have a hard time hearing soft voices, kid’s voices, voices when there is a lot of background noise, and a general lack of clarity when somebody speaks 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.
Dealing with age-related hearing loss is important
Neglected hearing loss decreases quality of life. Untreated hearing loss is linked to depression, despair, anxiety, mental decline, poor social relationships, and the risk of dementia.
These issues can, to a great extent, be avoided by having your hearing loss treated with solutions like hearing aids, telephone amplifiers, lip reading, a cochlear implant, or if your hearing loss is extreme, 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.
Contact us today to schedule your hearing test 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