Does hearing loss get worse as you age? Hearing loss is a common slowly progressing condition that affects all adults. In fact, over one half 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. Usually, there will be a combination of factors contributing to this condition.
Changes happen in our inner ear as we get older. There are little hair cells in our inner ear that help us to hear. They pick up sound waves and translate them into nerve signals that our brain utilizes to interpret sound.
When these little hair cells become damaged or destroyed, hearing loss is the consequence. These hair cells don’t regenerate or grow back, so any hearing loss is permanent.
The following are some causes of hearing loss:
- Hearing loss runs in familiess.
- Using headphones when listening to loud music can increase the risk.
- Hearing loss can be the outcome of numerous medical conditions, including diabetes.
- Exposure to loud sound frequently over long time periods.
- The risk of hearing loss is raised by smoking.
- Hearing loss risk is increased by some drugs including chemotherapy drugs.
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 difficulty 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 the volume up on the TV.
The importance of managing age-related hearing loss
Neglected hearing loss decreases quality of life. Neglected hearing loss is connected to depression, despair, stress, mental decline, diminishing social relationships, and the risk of dementia.
Instead of these issues, think about possible treatments, like hearing aids, sign language for individuals who have extreme hearing loss, telephone amplifiers, lip reading, or a cochlear implant.
Suffering with age-related hearing loss isn’t something that anyone should have to do. You can still have a complete and enjoyable life.
Consult with us today to schedule your hearing examination and to discuss the best treatments for your hearing loss or for someone 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