Age-Related Hearing Loss

Age-related hearing loss is where your hearing starts to go in both ears. 1/3 of adults sixty and over have this type of hearing loss. They may not notice some of these changes at first as this could make them think it is something different. We will go through all of the possibilities in this blog post.

What Symptoms Are Part Of Age-Related Hearing Loss?

There are so many different causes and symptoms that are related to age-related hearing loss. This kind of hearing problem usually happens in the main areas of the ears, and these are:

In the central area of the ear
In the middle of the ear
Along the pathway of the brain to the ears
Loud noises from other sources, e.g., music
The change of individuals’ hair cells linked to the ears
Gene or inherited related factors
Ageing over some time
Different health-related problems
Side effects from medications that may have been prescribed
Other related issues

How Can Friel Hearing Help With Age-Related Hearing Loss?

Friel Hearing and Andrew can help with this kind of hearing problem by performing an examination that is pretty similar to a hearing test so we can pinpoint what kind of issues are going on within your ears and whether you would prefer to have this test performed in the clinic or the comfort of your own home.

What Are The Different Types Of Age-Related Hearing Loss?

The primary type of age-related hearing loss is a condition called presbycusis, which links to sensorineural hearing loss, which is connected to how your hearing loss starts to get worse inside your ears.

The other age-related conditions are:

Metabolic presbycusis- the blood supply that is linked to your ears is reduced
Mechanical presbycusis- where your tissue is usually thin, but with this condition, it will be thick
Mixed presbycusis- this is a link to all of the other conditions
Indeterminate presbycusis- this is when you think you know which condition it could be and which one is common

Will This Age-Related Condition Affect Your Hearing In The Long Run?

This age-related condition will all depend on the genetics attached to your family and how your hearing may have changed due to the levels of your hearing noises and sounds as you will have been exposed to different areas of this during the other times in your life.

Some of these scenarios could include how your occupation is separate from somebody else’s. So, this is a part of how you can lose your hearing loss, which can lead to tinnitus, another hearing condition, especially when they are in an older stage of their life.

The factors that link to this condition can also be:

The noise-induced hearing loss- the longer the exposure to loud noises through work, social aspects, and many other reasons. This point is a pretty common one.
Previous history- could you have inherited this condition from a family member?
Medical conditions- heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes are the most common conditions linked to this.
Hearing medication- the type of hearing medication that can affect what you are hearing in your day-to-day life. This will also involve the different side effects of this.

How Does Friel Hearing Diagnose The Type Of Presbycusis That You Have?

The treatment that can help treat this through Friel’s hearing is tympanometry, a particular form of testing that can be performed to figure out the kind of problem that is happening within the middle of the ear to find out what is going on more intensely.

They can also explain to you as a clinic and audiologist through Andrew Friel that what is going on is mentioned in your examination report and how this can improve if a solution is found.

What Are The Key Signs To Look Out For With This Age-Related Condition?

At the beginning of these symptoms with this age-related hearing loss, the first one that people with hearing loss will start to notice is that they can no longer hear the usual high frequency or high-pitched sounds.

The other vital signs that relate to this are:

Similar sounds are deafening
I can’t hear very well in louder situations
Struggling to listen to the sounds “S” and “th”
Ringing sounds in the ears
Needing volume levels to be turned up
Asking the people, you know to repeat themselves
Find it somewhat challenging to understand telephone conversations

I would highly suggest you contact your hearing specialist and inform them that these symptoms are happening. However, be aware that they could also be linked to other reasons.

Graphic for Friel Hearing blog entitled How Much Does It Cost To Have Ear Wax Removed

How To Diagnose Age-Related Hearing Loss?

The first thing that I would suggest that you do is to make an appointment with your doctors, in which they may refer you to someone like Andrew at Friel hearing so this kind of condition can be appropriately diagnosed.

Both industries will ensure that a complete examination has taken place for this age-related hearing loss.

Treatment For Age-Related Hearing Loss

Unfortunately, there is no direct cure for age-related hearing loss. So, if you have been diagnosed with this kind of condition, you, your doctor and perhaps a hearing specialist can put a plan together on how this can change.

The use of hearing aids to help you hear a bit better
Further help, such as an amplifier
Sign language lessons and techniques

Also, in many other cases, if an audiologist can’t recommend a hearing aid, they will offer you the option of a cochlear implant. This device will ensure you are hearing those noises and sounds a lot clearer and louder.

What Information Should All People Know About Age-Related Hearing Loss?

Chronic hearing loss and impairment become a lot more common when you are a part of the older life category.

A study has shown that in time one in three older adults aged over sixty to mid-seventies will find out also they have hearing loss, and those over this age bracket will also start to have hearing problems.

Hearing loss can affect a particular generation in life during a specific period. For example, a case study from a couple of years ago on this topic founds that over 10% of people in this category are mid-forties and then 20% is mid-fifties and mid-sixties, and so this is a significant figure.

What Is The Definition Of Presbycusis?

Presbycusis is the impact of your hearing deteriorating that gradually happens over time as the older generation gets older. Hearing loss is sadly a common disorder linked to the ageing process.

A high percentage of these kinds of adults have one form of hearing loss, and more often than not, it is this condition called Presbycusis. It is usually affected by the high frequencies that we hear in the middle of our ears.