Does hearing loss get worse as you age? Hearing loss is a common gradually developing condition that impacts all adults. Actually, over 50% of individuals 75 and older have trouble 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 occurrence, but it is usually considered a combo of many factors.
Changes happen in our inner ear as we grow older. There are little hair cells in our inner ear that help us to hear. They detect sound waves and translate them into nerve signals that our brain uses to translate sound.
The beginning of hearing loss happens when the hair cells are damaged or destroyed. Hearing loss that is the outcome of damage to these hairs is permanent as these hairs never restore.
A few of the triggers of hearing loss include the following:
- Hearing loss runs in familiess.
- Loud noises like going to concerts frequently or working in a setting with continual loud noise.
- Wearing 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.
- Hearing loss can be the result of numerous medical disorders, including diabetes.
Some common symptoms of age-related hearing loss
Common symptoms of presbycusis include lack of clearness when people speak, trouble hearing soft voices including children, and trouble hearing when there’s background sound.
Other indicators of hearing loss include regularly asking people to repeat what they said, ringing in the ears, and needing to turn up the volume 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, jeopardized relationships, and an increased risk of developing dementia are all ways that neglected hearing loss can have a negative impact on your quality of life.
Instead of these problems, think about possible treatments, such as hearing aids, sign language for people with severe 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. You can still have a complete and enjoyable life.
If you or someone you love is coping 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