Does hearing loss get worse as you get older? Hearing loss is a common gradually progressing condition that affects all adults. Actually, over one half of people 75 and older have trouble hearing.
Presbycusis
Presbycusis is defined as age-related hearing loss or the gradual process of hearing loss as we get older. There is no one definitive cause for this occurrence, but it is normally considered to be a combination of many factors.
As we get older, our ears undergo changes. 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.
The onset of hearing loss happens when the hair cells are damaged or die. These hair cells don’t regenerate or grow back, so any hearing loss is permanent.
The following are a few causes of hearing loss:
- Some medicines including chemotherapy drugs increase the risk.
- Heredity plays a factor in hearing loss.
- Loud noises like going to concerts regularly or working in a setting with continual loud noise.
- Certain medical disorders like diabetes can lead to hearing loss.
- The risk of hearing loss is increased by smoking.
- Using headphones when listening to loud music can increase the risk.
Some typical symptoms of age-related hearing loss
When you have difficulty making out soft voices, kid’s voices, voices when there is a lot of background noise, and an overall lack of resolution when somebody speaks are all symptoms of Presbycusis.
Additionally, increasing 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 managing age-related hearing loss
Quality of life will be negatively impacted by untreated hearing loss. Anxiety, depression, despair, 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.
These issues 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 extreme, sign language.
Suffering with age-related hearing loss isn’t something that anyone should have to do. There are ways to take pleasure in your life again.
If you or somebody you love is coping with hearing loss, contact 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