What is Age-Related Hearing Loss?

Age-related hearing loss is one of the most common causes of hearing loss as you age. It often affects both ears and can begin very early in life. 

The first thing that will be affected is your ability to hear high-pitched sounds. After that, you will find it difficult to hear when there is loud background noise. 

If the hearing loss is gradual you will probably not realize that you cannot hear as well as you did before until someone points it out. You may notice, that you have to turn up devices such as your television a bit louder in order to hear what is being said.

What Causes Age-Related Hearing Loss?

Age-related hearing loss is caused by a variety of factors. Genetics can play a role, as well as lifestyle, and environment. Age-related hearing loss is usually caused by changes in the inner ear.

The inner ear is where sound is converted to nerve impulses. These nerve impulses are sent to the brain. 

However, hearing loss may be caused by damaged nerve pathways that carry information about sound to the brain. Changes in the eardrum or the small bones in the middle air can also bring about hearing loss.

Environment and lifestyle are also contributing factors in age-related hearing loss. If you are in a career for a very long time that has a noisy environment then the longer you stay at that job the more likely it is that your hearing will deteriorate.

Frequently turning up your headphones too high when you are listening to music is another way in which many people damage their hearing over time. There are also medications that can damage hearing. Treatment of infectious diseases and antibiotics have also been known to contribute to age-related hearing loss.

Signs You Have Age-Related Hearing Loss

You may start to notice that when people talk to you their words sound mumbled or their speech appears slurred. If you suddenly have problems hearing high pitch sounds and conversations become more difficult to understand age-related hearing loss may be the problem.

If you notice that deeper male voices are easier to hear and understand than women then hearing loss may be taking place as well. If you notice experience ringing in one or both of your ears then you may have tinnitus, which can cause hearing loss.

How is Age-Related Hearing Loss Treated?

Hearing aids are the most common forms of treatment that audiologists use for age-related hearing loss. Techniques may also be applied to prevent excessive wax from developing in the outer ear.

You may need to use assistive devices to hear the telephone and software that converts speech to text.

Coping with Age-Related Hearing Loss

While there is not much that can be done to reverse the loss of hearing treatment is often very effective. If you have hearing loss hearing aids tend to work very well and will assist you with carrying on with your daily routine. Talk to your audiologist about the hearing aid that is best for you.