What is Age-Related Hearing Loss?

As you age, you can experience a wide variety of changes in your mind and body. One area you may want to start focusing on more is your hearing. It’s common for older adults to experience some level of hearing loss. You will increase your chances of hearing loss as you age, especially over the age of 65. You may also hear age-related hearing loss referred to as presbycusis. Hearing loss can negatively impact your quality of life and relationships with others. Here an audiologist can tell you what is age-related hearing loss so you can have all your questions answered.

Causes of Age-Related Hearing Loss

There are many different causes to be aware of when it comes to age-related hearing loss. It will usually occur over a long period of time instead of an onset of hearing loss overnight. It may be caused by various changes in the inner ear like changes in blood flow to the ear or changes in the structure of the inner ear. There may be other health issues that pose a risk of hearing loss like having diabetes or a family history of hearing loss.

Symptoms to Be Aware of

There are some symptoms of age-related hearing loss that you should be aware of. In most cases, you’ll initially find it difficult to hear high-pitched noises. It’s common to have trouble hearing the voices of children or females, for example. It may be hard to hear others speak clearly or you may find it difficult to make out speech in noisy environments. You might find yourself asking people to repeat themselves or turning the volume up on your TV. It might also be difficult to have conversations with others over the phone.

How It’s Diagnosed

You may be wondering how age-related hearing loss is diagnosed and identified. It’s important if you have any symptoms of hearing loss that you visit a local audiologist. They can look over your ears in detail and perform a hearing test to check your hearing. Your audiologist will be able to tell how much hearing loss has occurred. In some cases, it may just be that you have earwax or fluid buildup which they can clear out for you.

Treatment and Prevention

You can work with your audiologist to come up with a suitable treatment plan. Your audiologist may recommend hearing aids for your hearing loss. These can help you hear better and improve your quality of life. It is possible to work on preventing any further damage to your hearing. You should do your best to avoid repetitive exposure to loud sounds and noisy environments. If you must be somewhere where there are lots of loud noises, then consider wearing hearing protection like earplugs or earmuffs.

If you’re an older adult experiencing hearing loss, now is the perfect time to see an audiologist. Hearing aids can greatly improve your quality of life, helping you stay connected and avoid feelings of isolation or depression. They offer an effective solution to hearing challenges, allowing you to enjoy everyday activities more fully.