Does hearing loss worsen as you age? Hearing loss is a common slowly progressing condition that impacts all adults. Half of people older than 75 have difficulty with their hearing, as a matter of fact.
Presbycusis
Presbycusis is defined as age-related hearing loss or the slow process of hearing loss as we get older. There is no one definitive cause for this to happen, but it is normally considered a combination of many factors.
As we age, our ears go through changes. There are tiny hair cells in our inner ear that help us to hear. They detect sound waves and change them into nerve signals that our brain utilizes to interpret sound.
The onset of hearing loss takes place when the hair cells are damaged or die. Hearing loss that is the result of damage to these hairs is irreversible as these hairs never restore.
A few of the causes of hearing loss include the following:
- Using headphones when listening to loud music can increase the risk.
- Particular medicines including chemotherapy drugs increase the risk.
- Hearing loss runs in familiess.
- Exposure to loud noise frequently over long time periods.
- The risk of hearing loss is increased by smoking.
- Hearing loss can be the result of several medical conditions, including diabetes.
Some typical symptoms of age-related hearing loss
Typical symptoms of presbycusis include lack of clearness when people talk, difficulty hearing soft voices like kids, and trouble hearing when there is background sound.
Additionally, raising the TV volume, asking others to repeat what they said, and ringing in your ears can also be signs of hearing loss.
The importance of dealing with age-related hearing loss
Untreated hearing loss decreases quality of life. Neglected hearing loss is linked to depression, despair, anxiousness, cognitive decline, poor social relationships, and the risk of dementia.
Rather than dealing with these problems, think about possible treatments, such as hearing aids, sign language for people with extreme 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 full and enjoyable life.
Consult with us today to schedule your hearing examination and to discuss 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
