understanding age-related hearing loss

Age-related hearing loss, also known as presbycusis, comes from the Greek words presbys, meaning “old”, and akousis, meaning “hearing”. It’s a lot like irreversible balding: once the hair cells in your inner ear are damaged, they don’t grow back.

Often occurring gradually as we get older, age-related hearing loss generally affects your ability to hear high-pitched frequencies and usually occurs in both ears. Since it occurs over time, those dealing with the condition may not notice it at first.

Book an appointment with one of our hearing centers to get your hearing tested for age related hearing loss.

It's no secret that our hearing takes a toll as we age. What's a bit more difficult to explain is the exact reason why, as age-related hearing is often accompanied by other causes, such as exposure to loud noise and a reduction in the tiny hairs cells in our ears.

Most commonly, changes to the inner ear are to blame for the gradual reduction in hearing capabilities. Changes to the middle ear or nerve pathways leading to the brain can also happen, but this is less common.

While age-related hearing loss can be genetic and often isn't preventable, not everything is black and white. Other causes of hearing loss can include:

• Loud noise
  Sound waves vibrate the eardrum and tiny bones in the ears, which, in turn, causes hair cells in the inner ear to vibrate. Long-term exposure to loud sounds can eventually damage these hair cells and lead to hearing loss.
  
  
• Ear infections
  While most common in children, ear infections can wreak havoc on our hearing capabilities. Medication can be used to fight the infection and restore hearing.
  
  
• Earwax buildup
  While wax is meant to protect and maintain your hearing health, you can have too much of a good thing. Wax removal by a Hearing Care Professional can help.
  
  
• Other medical issues 
  Everything in our bodies is connected. Your ear health can be affected by health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension or obesity.

66% of people over 65 are coping with hearing loss. If you answer yes to most of the following questions, it’s time to take action and nip these challenges in the bud.

• When two or more people are talking at the same time, do you feel like you are on the outside looking in?
  
  
• Do your friends or family say you turn up the volume too loud?
  
  
• Does the telephone seem like it’s nearly on mute?
  
  
• Do noisy backgrounds drive you bananas?
  
  
• Do you find yourself (willingly) asking others to repeat themselves?

Age-related hearing loss audiograms typically show a pattern of hearing loss that is greatest in the high-frequency range. With hearing loss in this range, it can be hard to hear birds chirping, doorbells and telephones ringing, and children’s and women’s voices. 

The degree of hearing loss can vary depending on the individual and the severity of the age-related changes in the auditory system. In many cases, the hearing loss is bilateral and symmetrical, meaning that it affects both ears equally. 

The audiogram may show a sloping pattern, where the hearing threshold is worse in the high frequencies and improves towards the low frequencies. The speech discrimination scores may also be reduced, particularly in noisy environments. 

Overall, audiograms can provide valuable information about the type, degree, and configuration of the age-related hearing loss, which can help guide treatment options and management strategies.

This chart below indicates the possible decline in hearing due to aging.

Age-related hearing loss, also known as presbycusis, is a common condition that affects many older adults. But just because it's common, doesn't mean it's inevitable. In fact, there are several steps you can take to help protect your hearing as you age and ensure you can enjoy all the sounds of life for years to come.

• Avoid loud noise
  Wearing earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones in loud environments, such as at concerts or while mowing the lawn, can help protect your hearing.
  
  
• Put your health first
  Maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle can help prevent further damage to your ears. A healthy diet, regular exercise, avoiding smoking and managing stress all play a role.
  
  
• Check your hearing
  As we age, it’s important to keep an eye on our hearing health. Regular check-ups can help ensure you catch changes or issues early on.

Hearing is an essential part of our health and well-being. That's why treatment is so important. Not only can healthy hearing help physically protect us in a fast-paced, busy world, it can prevent social isolation and depression as well. Hearing loss can also lead to a reduction in brain stimulation, as sounds we should be hearing aren't getting through. This can lead to memory loss and even dementia.

For these reasons, it’s essential to treat your hearing loss early. That could include exploring hearing aid options that suit your needs and even taking them for a screening drive with a complimentary demo. If you or a loved one is living with hearing loss, there are solutions. Book a complimentary online consultation with one of our Hearing Care Professionals and take back your hearing health today.