Hearing loss is one of the most common disorders affecting older people: approximately 29 percent of American adults aged 45-64 years, 43 percent of adults over the age of 65 have some degree of hearing impairment. Despite the fact that its incidence increases with age, hearing loss can affect people in any age group.
Hearing loss generally falls into two categories: sensorineural (when damage occurs to the inner ear or auditory nerve), which is usually permanent, and conductive (when sound waves cannot reach the inner ear, often because of earwax buildup, fluid buildup or a damaged eardrum), which can often be treated with surgery or other medical procedure. Presbycusis is the gradual loss of hearing as a person ages and most often affects those over age 50. This is the type of hearing loss we will focus on here.
Risk factors, other than increasing age, that can increase your risk of hearing loss include: a family history of hearing loss; occupational noises (i.e. music, construction, transportation); recreational noises (i.e. fireworks, motorcycles, loud music); and some medications or illnesses. Presbycusis often occurs as a direct result of damage to the inner ear (from head injury or continuous exposure to loud noise), ear wax buildup (which blocks the ear canal from conducting sound waves), ear infections or abnormal growths, circulation problems (i.e. high blood pressure) or damage to the eardrum. The mnemonic “MONDAY” can help you remember some of the causes:
M: Meniere’s Disease – a disorder of the inner ear which causes spontaneous episodes of vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, ringing in the ear or fullness/pressure in inner ear
O: Ototoxicity – ear “poisoning” resulting from exposure to drugs or chemicals that damage the inner ear or nerve
N: Noise – greater than 80 decibels for long periods of time (consider that a normal conversation is approximately 60 decibels)
D: Diabetic – hearing loss is twice as common in diabetics compared to those without diabetes, likely because long-term high blood glucose levels damage the vessels and nerves in your ears
A: Acoustic Neuroma – a benign and often slow-growing tumor that develops on the main nerve that runs from your inner ear to your brain
Y: Years – as your age increases, so does your risk for hearing loss
Unfortunately, some people may have a difficult time admitting they’re experiencing difficulties hearing. Sometimes, people will avoid interactions and become withdrawn in order to avoid the frustrations and embarrassment of hearing loss and not understanding conversations. Some of the common symptoms are trouble understanding phone conversations, trouble hearing above background noise, perceiving others as mumbling, and often needing others to repeat themselves.
This can further lead to depression, anxiety or a misperception of others’ emotions. If you or someone you know has difficulty hearing, make an appointment to visit your/their doctor. Numerous treatment options exist (hearing aids, training, and medicines) and you may have to try a couple solutions before you find the best fit for you, but the benefits certainly outweigh the negatives. Seeking treatment to improve hearing can allow you to fully enjoy the company of your friends and family, increase your self-confidence, grow closer to your loved ones and improve your overall quality of life.
