Does hearing loss get worse as you get older? Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions impacting all adults as they get older, but it’s a gradual process. 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. There is no one definitive cause for this to happen, but it is usually considered to be a combination of many factors.
As we grow older, our ears go through changes. There are little hair cells in your ears that detect waves of sound and communicate the signals to the brain to be translated as sound.
When these little hair cells become damaged or die, hearing loss is the consequence. These hair cells don’t regenerate or grow back, so any hearing loss is permanent.
Some of the causes of hearing loss include the following:
- Smoking raises the risk of hearing loss.
- The risk of hearing loss is increased by frequently listening to loud music, especially with headphones.
- Loud noises like going to concerts regularly or working in a setting with consistent loud noise.
- Hearing loss can be genetics.
- Particular medications including chemotherapy drugs raise the risk.
- Specific medical disorders like diabetes can result in hearing loss.
Common symptoms of age-related hearing loss
When you have a hard time making out soft voices, kid’s voices, voices when there is a lot of background sound, and an overall lack of clarity when someone speaks are all symptoms of Presbycusis.
Other indicators of hearing loss include regularly asking people to repeat what they said, ringing in the ears, and needing to crank up the volume on the TV.
The importance of treating age-related hearing loss
Quality of life will be negatively impacted by neglected 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 effect on your quality of life.
These problems can, to a great extent, be avoided by having your hearing loss treated with strategies like hearing aids, telephone amplifiers, lip reading, a cochlear implant, or if your hearing loss is severe, sign language.
Struggling with age-related hearing loss isn’t something that anybody should have to do. There are ways to take pleasure in your life again.
Consult with us today to schedule your hearing examination and to talk about 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