As we grow older, our bodies start to change, and things that were once easy often start to become a bit more difficult. Unfortunately, one of the many things that begins to dissipate as we get older is our ability to hear.
If you suspect that you have age-related hearing loss, it's important to understand what it is, how it happens, its effects, and what you can do about it. That way, you can choose the best next steps for improving your hearing and your overall quality of life.
Aging: A Common Cause of Hearing Loss
Aging is often identified as one of the most common causes of hearing loss in adults. Hearing loss, which is caused by aging, is often referred to as hearing “age-related hearing loss” or the medical term “Presbycusis."
Age-related hearing loss can begin between the ages of 30 to 40 years old, when an adult may start to notice subtle hearing loss or a reduced quality in the sounds that they hear. This can be spotted by how you cope in conversations or when listening to music or the TV.
By the age of 80 years old, most adults suffer from a certain level of hearing loss and difficulty in their daily lives as result.
What Causes Age-Related Hearing Loss?
Age-related hearing loss occurs due to damage to the cochlea. The cochlea is made up of sensitive hair cells found inside the spiral, coiled tube section of the inner ear. When these hair cells die, one experiences hearing loss. This type of hearing loss is called "sensorineural hearing loss," which simply indicates hearing loss caused as the result of damage in the inner ear.
"Conductive hearing loss" is the alternative to sensorineural hearing, which refers to damage found in other areas of the ear. Learn more about the three main classifications of hearing loss.
What Are the Effects of Age-related Hearing Loss?
As your hearing deteriorates with age, high-frequency sounds are likely to cause the most difficulty. High-frequency sounds refer to high-pitched voices such as those of some females and children.
You may also start to finding it difficult to hear the consonants in words. Listening to a conversation, or understanding the details of what someone is saying, is also likely to cause you a lot of difficulty as you age.
What Should I Do If I Think I Have Age-related Hearing Loss?
Self-diagnosing hearing loss is very difficult. However, if you often find yourself struggling to hear, consult a specialist doctor as soon as you can. After that, if you are diagnosed with hearing loss, then it's time to get in touch with the team here at Advanced Affordable Hearing.
Since 1996, Advanced Affordable Hearing has been helping people to hear better at a price they can afford. Our hearing aids are pre-programmed to the most common forms of hearing loss, so you won't even need to visit an audiologist.
Instead, visit our Online Hearing Check, or call one of our representatives at 1 (800) 804-0434, to get a general sense of your level of hearing loss. After that, we can help you to order a pair of hearing aids that will best meet your needs!
Don't hesitate to contact us now.
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