The First Signs of Age-Related Hearing Loss

Hearing loss affects one in three persons over 65. However, some people are first unaware of the change in hearing due to the gradual adjustment. Most frequently, it impairs one’s capacity to hear high-pitched sounds like a microwave beeping or a phone ringing. In most cases, hearing low-pitched noises is also affected. This article will shed light on recognizing and managing age-related hearing loss. 

Your ability to hear can deteriorate with aging, and although this is a natural process, some people may experience it sooner than others. These are the first five age-related hearing loss symptoms. 

You’re Finding It Difficult to Follow Conversations

Even without sound, the context, facial expressions and lip reading provide a wealth of information about speech. However, it’s common to start misreading what other people say. 

The Difficulty of Telephone Conversations Increases

The sound typically spreads to both ears. However, speaking over the phone only allows for one, which makes it more difficult especially if you hold the phone to the ear with more hearing loss. Additionally, phones’ imperfect ability to convey speech sounds exacerbates hearing problems.

Certain Noises Seem Louder Than Usual

Consider yourself prone to being startled by loud noises. Place the blame on a phenomenon known as recruitment, which frequently affects people with hearing loss. It takes place because some hair cells in your ear aren’t lost at once, so keep this in mind. Louder sounds can be more jarring or even seem distorted because they cause healthy cells to respond more vigorously than they usually would. 

It is More Difficult to Maintain a Conversation in a Crowded Environment

Background noise is challenging for everyone, including those with normal hearing. Still, it is more challenging for people with hearing loss to concentrate on one voice when surrounding human voices compete with it at a party or restaurant.

You Sense That You Are Becoming More Clumsy

The inner ear, where hearing occurs, resembles a two-story home. The cochlea and your hearing mechanism, the semicircular canals, are located in different rooms and are connected by a cavity filled with fluid. Consequently, one affects the other. 

How is Age-Related Hearing Loss Identified? 

Your doctor will use an otoscope to examine the eardrum and the outer ear canal. They will search for eardrum injury, ear canal obstruction from debris or impacted earwax, irritation or infection. You might be advised to have an audiogram from an audiologist. An audiogram is a test in which one ear simultaneously plays sounds through headphones. Someone may have hearing loss if they cannot hear particular tones, so keep this in mind.

What Factors Influence Age-Related Hearing Loss? 

Age-related hearing loss could have a variety of causes. It most frequently happens as a result of modifications in the following places:

• Inside the inner ear
• In the middle ear 
• Along the brain’s nerve circuits 

Aside from aging, the following factors can influence hearing loss: 

• Being around loud sounds all the time 
• Hair cells disappearing 
• Genetic components 
• Several different health issues, like diabetes or heart problems. 
• Various antibiotics and aspirin are just two examples of certain drugs’ side effects.

How is Age-Related Hearing Loss Managed?

In determining the appropriate course of action, your audiologist will consider the following: 

• Your age
• Your current state of health and medical history. 
• Just how ill are you
• Your capacity to handle treatments, operations or drugs. 
• Length of time anticipated for the condition.

There are many different forms of treatment for age-related hearing loss. One of the most common treatments is hearing aids. There are three common types of hearing aids like behind the ear, in the ear and in the canal. The following are potential remedies for hearing loss brought on by aging: 

• Assistive technologies, such as text-to-speech software or telephone amplifiers. 
• Speech-reading instruction.
• Prevention methods for excessive earwax.

What Can I Do to Stop Hearing Loss Brought on by Aging?

Consult an audiologist if you are living with hearing loss caused by aging; they have expertise in diagnosing and treating hearing issues, so feel free to consider this: 

• Protecting your hearing is the most crucial step to avoid age-related hearing loss. 
• Limit your exposure to noise by avoiding loud noises on special fluid-filled earmuffs or earplugs.

Both ears gradually losing their ability to hear is age-related hearing loss. It is a typical issue brought on by age. Consult Professional Hearing Solutions at (386) 478-7345 immediately if you have unexpected hearing loss because it could be the beginning of a major hearing issue.