Our ears as we age
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.
Getting to the root of the problem
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.
Recognising age-related hearing loss
- 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?
Decoding your online hearing test results
How to keep your hearing sharp
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.
The trouble with non-treatment
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. Book an appointment with one of our expert audiologists and take back your hearing health today.
