Is age a factor in the advancement of hearing loss? Hearing loss is a common gradually developing condition that affects all adults. In fact, over 50% of people 75 and older have a hard time hearing.
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 occurrence, but it is normally considered a combination of many factors.
Changes occur in our inner ear as we age. There are little 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 are damaged or die. These hair cells don’t regenerate or grow back, so any hearing loss is irreversible.
The following are some causes of hearing loss:
- Smoking raises the risk of hearing loss.
- Exposure to loud sound frequently over long time periods.
- The risk of hearing loss is increased by frequently listening to loud music, especially with headphones.
- Hearing loss risk is raised by specific drugs including chemotherapy drugs.
- Certain medical conditions like diabetes can result in hearing loss.
- Heredity plays a role in hearing loss.
Common symptoms of age-related hearing loss
Common symptoms of presbycusis include lack of clarity when people speak, trouble hearing soft voices like children, and trouble hearing when there is background sound.
Additionally, increasing the TV volume, asking people to repeat what they said, and ringing in your ears can also be indications of hearing loss.
Dealing with age-related hearing loss is important
Untreated hearing loss decreases quality of life. Anxiety, depression, despair, social isolation, compromised relationships, and an increased risk of developing dementia are all ways that untreated hearing loss can have a negative impact on your quality of life.
These problems can, to a great degree, be avoided by having your hearing loss treated with solutions such as hearing aids, telephone amplifiers, lip reading, a cochlear implant, or if your hearing loss is severe, sign language.
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.
If you or somebody you love is coping with hearing loss, contact us today to schedule a hearing assessment!
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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