Why does Hearing Loss Increase with Age?

 

As we grow older, many of us experience a number of changes in the way our body functions. Hearing loss can be one of these changes. For people over 75 years old it is believed that around half of the population suffer from hearing loss, which is purely down to their age. It is no wonder that this is a huge frustration for a large number of people.

As new research confirms that older deaf people’s needs are being ignored, Norman Lamb, Minister for Care and Support, has pledged to support and promote a new Deaf-Aware Care quality mark for residential care homes. According to the Royal Association for Deaf (RAD) people, to help care homes achieve the Deaf-Aware Care quality mark, training and support around accessibility, engagement, British Sign Language (BSL) and recruitment will be provided. For deaf BSL users, life in residential homes can be very depressing and isolating, especially if there is nobody to speak their language. The more care homes that achieve the quality mark, the better deaf people’s lives will be. Free hearing tests and home consultations from Hidden Hearing are also available on request and should be taken up on a regular basis.

Below is some information as to why hearing loss increases with age:

What is it and why does it happen?
Unfortunately, hearing loss is a natural part of getting old. As part of the aging process, hair cells in your inner ear begin to die and the more hair cells that die, the worse our hearing gets.

Age related hearing loss tends to deteriorate slowly over a matter of time, meaning people don’t really notice it until it has become very obvious. For many people, it starts with missing the odd word when in conversation or having to turn the television volume louder.

Diagnosis and treatment
If you’re having problems with your hearing, or know somebody who is, it is important to see a hearing professional as soon as possible. After some simple tests, they will be able to tell you if you are suffering from any hearing loss and will advise you on what to do next. Never put it off; having it checked on a regular basis will ensure any problems can be resolved earlier rather than later.

Although there is no cure for age related hearing loss, it can be assisted with the use of hearing aid technology and devices such as loop systems, amplified telephones and text telephones. Modern hearing aids are small and discreet so can be worn inside the ear without being noticed. Advancements in technology have also made it easier to connect your hearing device to mobile phones, televisions and other gadgets. This can significantly improve your hearing and boost your chances of being able to lead as normal a life as possible.

This is a guest post.