Does hearing loss get worse as you get older? Hearing loss is a common gradually developing condition that impacts all adults. Half of people over the age of 75 have difficulty with their hearing, as a matter of fact.
Presbycusis
Presbycusis is defined as age-related hearing loss or the gradual process of hearing loss as we get older. There’s no one definitive cause for this to happen, but it is typically considered a combination of many factors.
As we age, our ears undergo 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 uses to translate 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 irreversible.
The following are a few causes of hearing loss:
- Heredity plays a role in hearing loss.
- Hearing loss can be the outcome of numerous medical disorders, including diabetes.
- Hearing loss risk is increased by certain drugs including chemotherapy drugs.
- Smoking raises the risk of hearing loss.
- Exposure to loud sound frequently over long time periods.
- Wearing headphones when listening to loud music can increase the risk.
Typical symptoms of age-related hearing loss
When you have difficulty making out soft voices, children’s voices, voices when there is a lot of background noise, and a general lack of resolution when someone 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, sadness, social withdrawal, compromised relationships, and an increased risk of developing dementia are all ways that neglected hearing loss can have a negative impact on your quality of life.
Rather than dealing with these issues, consider possible treatments, like hearing aids, sign language for people who have extreme hearing loss, telephone amplifiers, lip reading, or a cochlear implant.
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.
Contact us today to schedule your hearing test and to go over the best treatments for your hearing loss or for somebody you love.
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