The First Signs of Age-Related Hearing Loss

Age-related hearing loss is when one’s hearing is gradually lost due to aging. It’s estimated that roughly a third of all adults over the age of 65 have some form of hearing loss. Like many other forms of hearing loss, age-related hearing loss is gradual and tends to occur slowly. This means the body has time to acclimate to the gradual hearing loss, meaning they are less likely to identify the condition. As a result, many adults over the age of 65 have undiagnosed hearing loss.

In many cases, identifying age-related hearing loss is usually done by comparing one’s condition to someone else. For instance, one may find it difficult to hear something like an alarm or doorbell. In most cases, age-related hearing loss tends to affect high-pitched noises. This includes phones, beeping and microwaves.

It may also affect the way some music sounds. Someone with hearing loss may find it harder to identify certain sounds in music, and they might also have trouble focusing on sounds in a busy area. However, the ability to hear lower sounds is usually unaffected by age-related hearing loss.

What Are the Causes of Age-Related Hearing Loss?

Age-related hearing loss tends to have a number of different causes. However, they can be narrowed down to changes within the inner or middle ears. It’s also common to see age-related hearing loss caused by damage to the nerve pathways that go from the ear to the brain. In fact, this is usually the most common reason for hearing loss in general, but it’s more common as a result of aging.

Age-related hearing loss can also be exacerbated by continuous exposure to loud sounds. This can include working in a loud environment or frequently visiting loud concerts. It’s also possible to experience hearing loss as a result of sensory receptors in the ear being lost. This usually means the loss of hair cells within the ears. There are also other health factors, such as diabetes, that can affect your hearing. Medication is also known to occasionally cause side effects that may affect your ability to hear.

Lastly, the aging process can gradually change our ears, leading to potential damage or changes to the nerve pathways that connect our brain to our ear. This leads to a reduced ability to hear and may get worse over time.

What Are the First Signs of Age-Related Hearing Loss?

There are a number of common symptoms that you might notice if you have age-related hearing loss:

• Muffled speech: If you notice that conversations are difficult to follow due to muffled or slurred speech, you might be facing early signs of age-related hearing loss.

• Difficulty isolating conversations: If you find it hard to participate in a conversation in a busy area, then it could be caused by hearing loss. This is especially true if there is a lot of background noise, such as at a party.
• High-pitched voices are difficult to hear: Whether it’s certain sounds in a song, high-pitched sounds in speech or even a child’s voice, people with hearing loss may find it difficult to distinguish high-pitched sounds.

• Ringing in the ears: Also known as tinnitus, a ringing in the ears can sometimes be attributed to age-related hearing loss.
• Frustration with certain sounds: Lastly, if you find it annoying to listen to certain sounds that you normally wouldn’t have a problem with, then it could be that your body is having difficulty processing certain frequencies.

It’s important not to be alarmed if you experience these symptoms, as age-related hearing loss can be diagnosed and treated. However, treatment options tend to work better the earlier you notice it, so it’s best to speak with a hearing health professional as soon as possible.

Diagnosing and Treating Age-Related Hearing Loss

A hearing health professional such as Beltone Hearing Care can help you diagnose your hearing loss using a number of different techniques and tools. This includes the use of an otoscope, a lighted scope that is used to check inside the ear.

Methods for treating hearing loss will depend on your age, your health and also the conditions that could be affecting your hearing. You may be offered hearing aids, techniques to reduce ear-related problems or even assistive devices. There are a number of different treatment options that are all valid, and your hearing healthcare professional will make suggestions based on your medical history and circumstances.

Interested in learning more about age-related hearing loss or want to get in touch with a hearing health professional? Contact Beltone Hearing Care today at https://beltonecan.com/contact-us/ for more information.