Does hearing loss get worse as you get older? Hearing loss is a common slowly progressing condition that affects all adults. In fact, over one half of individuals 75 and older have difficulty hearing.
Presbycusis
Presbycusis is defined as age-related hearing loss or the gradual process of hearing loss as we age. Normally, there will be a variety of factors contributing to this condition.
As we grow older, our ears go through changes. There are little hair cells in our inner ear that help us to hear. They detect sound waves and change them into nerve signals that our brain uses to translate sound.
When these little hair cells become damaged or die, hearing loss is the result. Hearing loss that is the outcome of damage to these hairs is irreversible as these hairs never regenerate.
The following are a few causes of hearing loss:
- Smoking increases the risk of hearing loss.
- Hearing loss can be the result of numerous medical conditions, including diabetes.
- The risk of hearing loss is increased by frequently listening to loud music, especially with headphones.
- Loud noises such as going to concerts frequently or working in a setting with continual loud noise.
- Particular medications including chemotherapy drugs increase the risk.
- Heredity plays a role in hearing loss.
Some typical symptoms of age-related hearing loss
Common symptoms of presbycusis include lack of clarity when people speak, difficulty hearing soft voices like kids, and difficulty hearing when there is background sound.
Other indicators of hearing loss include frequently needing people to repeat what they said, ringing in the ears, and needing to turn up the volume on the TV.
The benefit of treating age-related hearing loss
Quality of life will be negatively impacted by neglected hearing loss. Untreated hearing loss is connected to depression, despair, stress, mental decline, diminishing social relationships, and the risk of dementia.
Instead of these issues, consider possible treatments, such as hearing aids, sign language for people 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. There are ways to take pleasure in your life again.
If you or someone 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