Does hearing loss worsen as you get older? Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting all adults as they age, but it is a gradual process. Actually, over one half of individuals 75 and older have trouble hearing.
Presbycusis
The slowly developing condition of hearing loss as we age is generally known as presbycusis. There’s no one definitive cause for this to happen, but it is normally considered to be a combination 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 transmit the signals to the brain to be interpreted as sound.
When these tiny hair cells become damaged or die, hearing loss is the result. Hearing loss that is the consequence of damage to these hairs is irreversible as these hairs never restore.
The following are some causes of hearing loss:
- Smoking increases the risk of hearing loss.
- Exposure to loud sound consistently over long periods of time.
- Wearing headphones when listening to loud music can increase the risk.
- Hearing loss can be the outcome of numerous medical conditions, including diabetes.
- Certain medicines including chemotherapy drugs increase the risk.
- Hearing loss runs in familiess.
Some typical symptoms of age-related hearing loss
Common symptoms of presbycusis include lack of clarity when people speak, difficulty hearing soft voices including children, and difficulty hearing when there’s background sound.
Additionally, increasing the TV volume, asking others 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
Quality of life will be negatively impacted by untreated hearing loss. Anxiousness, depression, sadness, social withdrawal, jeopardized relationships, and an increased risk of developing dementia are all ways that untreated hearing loss can have a negative effect on your quality of life.
These problems can, to a great extent, be avoided by getting your hearing loss treated with strategies like hearing aids, telephone amplifiers, lip reading, a cochlear implant, or if your hearing loss is severe, sign language.
No one should suffer with age-related hearing loss. You can still have a complete and enjoyable life.
If you or someone you love is dealing with hearing loss, call 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
