Is age a factor in the development of hearing loss? Hearing loss is a common gradually advancing condition that affects all adults. Half of people older than 75 have trouble with their hearing, as a matter of fact.
Presbycusis
The slowly advancing condition of hearing loss as we get older is commonly known as presbycusis. There’s no one definitive cause for this occurrence, but it is usually considered to be 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 utilizes to translate sound.
The beginning of hearing loss occurs when the hair cells become damaged or destroyed. Hearing loss that is the outcome of damage to these hairs is permanent as these hairs never regenerate.
A few of the triggers of hearing loss include the following:
- Hearing loss risk is increased by specific medications including chemotherapy drugs.
- The risk of hearing loss is raised by smoking.
- Wearing headphones when listening to loud music can increase the risk.
- Hearing loss can be the result of numerous medical disorders, including diabetes.
- Exposure to loud sound frequently over long periods of time.
- Heredity plays a factor in hearing loss.
Typical symptoms of age-related hearing loss
Typical symptoms of presbycusis include lack of clearness when people talk, difficulty hearing soft voices including children, and difficulty hearing when there’s background sound.
Additionally, raising the TV volume, asking people to repeat what they said, and ringing in your ears can also be indications of hearing loss.
The benefit of treating age-related hearing loss
Untreated hearing loss decreases quality of life. Anxiousness, depression, sadness, 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.
Instead of these problems, think about possible treatments, including hearing aids, sign language for those with severe hearing loss, telephone amplifiers, lip reading, or a cochlear implant.
No one should need to cope with age-related hearing loss. You can still have a complete and enjoyable life.
Consult with us today to schedule your hearing examination and to talk about 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