What is age-related hearing loss?

As we get older, the tiny hair cells in our ears that help us hear start to break. As the number of functioning hair cells decrease, so does our ability to hear. Unfortunately you cannot grow any more hair cells, so the damage is permanent. This type of age-related hearing loss is called presbycusis.

Causes

For most, presbycusis is simply a result of age. However, other factors can increase your likelihood of getting age-related hearing loss. These include:

• A family history of hearing loss
• Smoking
• Loud noise exposure
• Medical conditions, like diabetes

Symptoms

Symptoms of age-related hearing loss vary in severity. The loss of hearing will occur gradually over time, so for a while you may not even know you have a problem. Look out for these signs of age-related hearing loss:

• Difficulty hearing conversations
• Difficulty understanding people in noisy environments
• Difficulty understanding children and others with high-pitched voices
• Ringing in your ears (tinnitus)

Evaluation

See a hearing care professional if you thing that you may have a hearing loss. If you are worried that you may not hear or understand everything the professional says then it may also be helpful to bring a friend or relative along with you. Most hearing professionals begin the examination by chatting about hearing issues. The professional will need to know:

• Your medical history
• When you first noticed a hearing loss
• Any previous exposure to loud sounds
• To what extent you experience hearing loss in your daily life.

This information will be used to understand how the loss developed and which treatment is best for you. A hearing professional will examine your ears using a lighted probe called an otoscope to look for any physical ear problems. This is a painless and non-invasive procedure.

Standard hearing examinations also include audiometric testing, or tests that physically measure the level of hearing loss. You will be asked to sit in a specially-designed audio booth and listen to a series of tones that are sent via headphones.

You will then indicate which sounds you can and can’t hear, and results will be plotted into an audiogram. The hearing professional will use this data to measure hearing loss and to find the appropriate hearing device for your type and level of hearing loss.

Treatment

If you do have a hearing loss your health professional will then tell you which types of hearing aids are available for you. Getting a hearing aid is a big decision, so feel free to take a few days to think about which option is best for you. Visit our Shop Finder to find a hearing professional near you.

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