As you head into your golden years, it’s only natural to notice certain changes in your body. In fact, as early as one’s 40s, subtle changes begin to occur, whether it’s suddenly needing glasses to read regular-sized print, aches and pains taking longer to heal than they used to, or your body’s response to certain food dramatically becoming much more “interesting.” And, to top it off, if you are lucky enough to be here for a long enough time period, all of your senses will dull/diminish/worsen with time. With all of these changes that occur, we’re not exactly sure if the term “golden years” is an accurate reflection of the reality of aging.
If you’re in or past your sixth decade of life, there’s a strong possibility that your ears are starting to show signs of wear and tear. Do you find normal conversations sounding a bit muffled or hard to follow? Are you constantly wishing people would just enunciate better? Maybe your kids’ or grandkids’ voices are all but lost to even a little bit of background noise, or the television volume is now to the point where your spouse is commenting on how loud it is. While it would be great to chalk that up to “If only everyone else would speak more clearly, I wouldn’t have a problem,” the more likely scenario is everyone else is speaking clearly and it’s your ears that are letting you down a bit.
The above scenario is most likely the result of presbycusis, more commonly known as age-related hearing loss (other factors may also play a role in hearing loss; more on that a bit later). It’s the most common hearing condition affecting older adults: One in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 has a hearing loss, and the rate increases in those older than 75. And we want to put to rest the silly notion of normal hearing loss for your age: there’s no such thing as normal hearing loss for your age! Think of vision; you either have 20/20 or you don’t.
Understanding the causes and symptoms of age-related hearing loss and how to manage it can help you maintain your quality of life and connection with loved ones. And why is this important? We can give you two BIG reasons: First, the #1 most common factor found in all super agers, those older adults who exhibit exceptional cognitive and physical health well beyond their chronological age, is their abundant social connections with others. And as we learned from Helen Keller (vision connects you to things, and hearing connects you to people), losing your hearing will impact your ability to have social connections. Second, the #1 modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline is undertreated hearing loss. And who wouldn’t want to do all in their power to reduce the likelihood of their own cognitive decline?
Causes and Risk Factors
The simplest way to think about age-related hearing loss (which is mostly accurate but not exactly 100% correct) is that as we age, the tiny hair cells in your inner ear (cochlea) that help transmit sound to your brain begin to wear out. These cells don’t regenerate, which gradually affects your hearing capabilities (Fun Fact: certain animals, such as some birds and reptiles, have the ability to regrow the hair cells in their ears after they’ve been damaged!).
Factors other than aging can also play a part. A lifetime of noise exposure can accumulate, contributing to hearing damage. Think about all the loud sounds you’ve encountered in your life: concerts you attended, time spent hunting/skeet shooting/at the rifle range, or even prolonged exposure to loud machinery at work or power tools at home. All this noise (and resulting damage to your ears) adds up over the years, affecting your hearing. Additionally, some people are more susceptible to presbycusis due to genetic predispositions, inheriting a tendency for this condition from their family.
Symptoms to Watch For
Age-related hearing loss has several common symptoms that are often ignored and minimized until they’re severely impacting your quality of life (most often, it’s actually those living with you who experience the burden of your untreated hearing loss before you do.). If you’re being told by a loved one that you’re not hearing like you used to, they’re probably correct. Like all other healthcare conditions, early intervention is one of the most important factors in achieving the most successful outcomes. Early intervention, as opposed to waiting too long, will make a world of difference to not just your ears/overall well-being but also for all those who are living/interacting with you as well.
Here are some common symptoms of presbycusis to be on the lookout for:
1. Gradual Loss of Higher-Frequency Sounds:
You might notice high-pitched sounds, such as children’s voices, birds chirping, microwave dings, or other electronic indicators aren’t as pronounced as they used to be.
2. Knowing Someone Is Talking but Not Understanding What Was Said:
This is especially noticeable in group conversations or in places with lots of background noise, like restaurants.
3. Perception of Muffled Sounds:
Sounds that once seemed clear may now seem less distinct, making it feel like everyone is mumbling or that people have forgotten how to clearly articulate and enunciate their speech.
How Age-Related Hearing Loss Impacts Quality of Life
Struggling to hear clearly can lead to communication barriers, which often cause frustration and misunderstandings. Nodding, smiling, and pretending to hear something are not recommended strategies to maintain good relationships with others.
Once the communication barrier of untreated hearing loss is in place, this can, unfortunately, lead to social isolation/withdrawal: those experiencing an untreated hearing loss may choose to avoid social situations altogether rather than constantly asking others to repeat themselves.
As we mentioned earlier, there is also a clear link between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline, which is another reason why addressing untreated hearing loss is vital not only for your ability to communicate but also for your mental sharpness.
Diagnosis and Then Management
No matter how much we’d like it to be true, ignoring the problem won’t make it go away. The first step in overcoming your hearing challenges is to get a proper diagnosis. A great way to achieve that is through an evaluation from a local, independent doctor of audiology. We’re not talking about a basic hearing test you can get at a big box store or on your smartphone (typically the absolute bare minimum required by state law to sell you something). We‘re not even talking about the slightly better but still inadequate Medicare-based hearing testing (typically the bare minimum needed to meet an arbitrary code that hasn’t been updated in over three decades and does not address the #1 complaint of individuals with a hearing loss: difficulty understanding speech in the presence of background noise). What you really need is a comprehensive analysis of your auditory system, which is a far more insightful series of measurements on how your auditory system is working, how it’s processing sound, and how it will respond to hearing optimization.
Rest assured that the team at Visalia Hearing Center conducts comprehensive auditory system analyses in order to reach the correct diagnosis for what’s going on with your ears and hearing. Only then can appropriate management strategies and/or hearing optimization plans be discussed. Additionally, having the proper diagnosis will guide you in making the most informed decisions in addressing the hearing challenges you’re facing.
Don’t worry; hearing aids might not even be needed, depending on how your ears are faring. But know that there’s no shame in needing them if you do. You can rely on our team to get subtle (or not so subtle if that’s what you’re into [O&G, please insert wink emoji]), yet powerful hearing solutions that will help you manage age-related hearing loss with ease.
Here are just some of the ways our team can support your hearing optimization journey:
1. Cerumen Management:
Sometimes hearing challenges are just caused by impacted earwax.
2. Prescriptive Hearing Aids:
These devices can be tailored specifically for presbycusis, helping to amplify sounds and improve overall hearing.
3. Assistive Listening Devices:
Used in conjunction with hearing aids, assistive listening devices, like remote microphones or Bluetooth streaming devices for the TV, to name a few, can enhance sound clarity further when needed.
4. Cochlear Implantation:
When hearing aids are no longer enough, particularly with those patients with a severe and/or profound hearing loss, then this would be the option for you.
5. At-Home Aural Rehabilitation Programs:
Since listening is a skill, and skills can be practiced and improved, there are programs, such as LACE AI or Amptify, that can help you improve your listening skills.
Take Control of Your Hearing Health
Everyone in your orbit will benefit from you proactively addressing your age-related hearing loss. At Visalia Hearing Center, our team of experts is dedicated to providing you with a concierge-level hearing care experience that adheres to audiologic best practices.
Whether you’re ready to explore prescriptive hearing aid options, need your ears cleaned, or want to establish your baseline hearing levels, Visalia Hearing Center is ready to be of service. Request a callback or give us a call at (559) 625-8960 because you deserve hearing care that supports you for years to come.
