A hearing aid can assist with age-related hearing loss.
It’s not unusual to lose some of your hearing as you get older. Age-related hearing loss is called Presbycusis. Statistically, most people start losing their hearing some time in their 30s and 40s. Some people start experiencing hearing loss sooner than others. Over half of all people over the age of 80 suffer from hearing loss. You may experience hearing loss in only one ear or both of them equally. Hearing loss makes it hard to respond to warnings, enjoy conversation, and often time leads to feelings of isolation. That’s why it’s important to identify and treat hearing loss as soon as possible.
Why Do We Lose Our Hearing as We Get Older?
Age-related hearing loss can be attributing to a number of factors. Long-term exposure to sounds that are too loud or last too long can damage the sensory hair cells in our ears that enable us to hear. Conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes can contribute to hearing loss in older people. Certain toxic medications (chemotherapy drugs) can also damage your hearing. For most older people the issue is a combination of both age-related and noise-induced hearing loss.
Symptoms of Age-Related Hearing Loss
Difficulty processing high frequency sounds is usually the first sign that you may be suffering from age-related hearing loss. Certain parts of speech consist of high frequency sounds, such as the consonants s, t, k, p and f. If you are having trouble hearing what other people are saying to you, it could be a sign of Presbycusis. Another common indication of age-related hearing loss is when men’s voices sound clearer than women’s, or difficulty hearing in noisy environments. You may also experience ringing in your ears, headaches, vision changes, dizziness, or mumbled and slurred voices. It’s important to consult a doctor if you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, as they can perform more thorough tests and determine the kind of treatment that’s right for you.
Age-Related Hearing Loss Treatment
Unfortunately, there is no permanent cure for Presbycusis. However, there are a few things that can be done to help maintain a more normal life. A hearing aid can help, for example. Hearing aids are devices designed to improve hearing by amplifying sounds so that they can be better processed by your ears. Telephone amplifiers and other assistive devices are also possible solutions.
Hear Better with Clarity Audiology & Hearing Solutions
Need help with your hearing? Clarity Hearing can help. Clarity Audiology & Hearing Solutions is an independently-owned and operated clinic that focuses on quality of care and personalized, friendly service. Our Doctors of Audiology are highly trained with advanced degrees and take the time to provide the personalized care and attention that you need and deserve. We provide advanced hearing aid options that personally calibrated with cutting-edge digital technology to fit your hearing loss, your unique ear anatomy, and your individual listening needs.
Come in for a walk-in appointment on Tuesdays & Fridays from 10:00am to 11:30am, or contact us to schedule an appointment by calling 410-698-6594 or visiting our contact page. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, and LinkedIn for more blog posts, news, and updates! 1