Preserve Your Hearing: Tips for Healthy Ears As You Age
As we grow older, it’s common to notice changes in various aspects of our health, including our hearing. Hearing loss due to aging is called presbycusis, a condition that affects many older adults in the United States. By the time people reach their 70s, nearly two-thirds experience some degree of hearing impairment. By understanding the effects of age-related hearing loss, you can take steps to address the issue and explore potential solutions.
Changes In Hearing As You Age
Age-related hearing loss generally occurs gradually, making it easy to overlook in the early stages. Over time, the hair cells located in the inner ear – which transmit sound to the brain – become damaged or deteriorate, leading to hearing loss.
Factors such as prolonged exposure to loud noise, ototoxic medications, and health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes can accelerate hearing loss.
Signs of Age-Related Hearing Loss
The effects of age-related hearing loss often start subtly. You may find yourself asking others to repeat themselves more frequently or struggling to follow the conversation in crowded settings. High-pitched sounds such as women and children’s voices may be harder to hear clearly.
To monitor how your hearing changes over time, an audiogram versus age can be an insightful tool. An audiogram is a visual representation of your hearing across different frequencies. As you age, the graph typically shows a decline in sensitivity, particularly in the higher frequencies.
Exploring Solutions
Although hearing loss due to aging is irreversible, there are effective ways to manage it. One of the most common solutions is hearing aids. A test to determine if you could be helped by a hearing aid is an essential step in addressing age-related hearing loss. This can help our hearing specialists identify whether amplifying sound through a hearing aid could significantly improve your ability to hear and understand speech.
Take Care of Your Hearing
At Valley Hearing Center, we offer the latest hearing aid technology to help you maintain your speech comprehension and hear better. Our team is dedicated to helping the people of Salinas, Monterey, and the surrounding areas experience better hearing. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!