Does hearing loss worsen as you get older? Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent conditions affecting all adults as they age, but it is a slow process. Half of people over the age of 75 have difficulty with their hearing, as a matter of fact.
Presbycusis
The slowly developing condition of hearing loss as we age is generally known as presbycusis. Normally, there will be a combination of elements contributing to this condition.
Changes occur in our inner ear as we get older. There are little hair cells in your ears that detect waves of sound and transmit the signals to the brain to be translated as sound.
When these tiny hair cells become damaged or die, hearing loss is the consequence. These hair cells don’t restore or grow back, so any hearing loss is irreversible.
Some of the causes of hearing loss include the following:
- Certain medicines including chemotherapy drugs increase the risk.
- The risk of hearing loss is increased by regularly listening to loud music, especially with headphones.
- Hearing loss can be the result of numerous medical conditions, including diabetes.
- Exposure to loud noise frequently over long time periods.
- Heredity plays a role in hearing loss.
- Smoking raises the risk of hearing loss.
Typical symptoms of age-related hearing loss
Common symptoms of presbycusis include lack of clarity when people talk, trouble hearing soft voices including kids, and trouble hearing when there’s background sound.
Other signs of hearing loss include frequently asking people to repeat what they said, ringing in the ears, and needing to crank up the volume on the TV.
Managing age-related hearing loss is essential
Quality of life will be negatively impacted by neglected hearing loss. Anxiousness, depression, despair, social isolation, 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 solutions like hearing aids, telephone amplifiers, lip reading, a cochlear implant, or if your hearing loss is severe, sign language.
Suffering with age-related hearing loss isn’t something that anybody should have to do. You can still live a full and enjoyable life.
Contact us today to schedule your hearing test and to go over the best treatments for your hearing loss or for somebody you love.
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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