Age-Related Hearing Loss - Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention

What Is Age-Related Hearing Loss?

Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is the loss of hearing that gradually occurs in most of us as we grow older. It is one of the most common conditions affecting older and elderly adults.

In most cases, the hearing loss affects both ears. It can begin as early as a person's thirties or forties and worsens gradually over time.

Diagnosis

Visit your health care provider as soon as you experience symptoms of hearing loss. They will use an otoscope to check whether there is any damage in the eardrum or blockage in the ear canal due to ear wax, inflammation, or infection. In cases if your condition is worse, then they will refer you to an audiologist who will perform a hearing test to determine the degree of your hearing loss and recommend the suitable hearing aid or treatment accordingly. Your audiologist may perform one of these tests to diagnose your hearing loss:

● Traditional pure tone test

● Bone conduction test

● Speech recognition test

● Speech in noise test

● Tympanometry test

Treatment

The type of treatment you will require to overcome your hearing loss varies depending on your age and the degree of hearing loss you have. There are a number of devices and aids that help you hear better when you have hearing loss. Here are the most common ones:

● Hearing aids - these are considered the best solution for most types of hearing loss. Even adults aged 70 and older can benefit from wearing hearing aids. There are different types of hearing aids to select from. Discuss your options with your audiologist and choose the one that suits your lifestyle, hearing ability, and budget.

● Cochlear Implants – These are small electronic devices surgically implanted in the inner ear that help provide a sense of sound to people who are profoundly deaf or hard-of-hearing.

● Bone Anchored Hearing Systems – They bypass the ear canal and middle ear, and are designed to use your body's natural ability to transfer sound through bone conduction.

● Assistive Listening Devices – This includes telephone and cell phone amplifying devices, smart phone or tablet "apps," and closed-circuit systems (hearing loop systems) in places of worship, theaters, and auditoriums.

● Lip reading or Speech reading – This is another option that helps people with hearing problems follow conversational speech. Special trainers can help you learn how to lip read or speech read.

Prevention

The following steps can help you prevent noise-induced hearing loss and avoid worsening of age-related hearing loss:

• Protect your ears by limiting the duration and intensity of your exposure to noise. In the workplace, plastic earplugs or glycerin-filled earmuffs can help protect your ears from damaging noise.

• Consider regular hearing tests if you work in a noisy environment. If you've lost some hearing, you can take steps to prevent further loss.

• Avoid recreational risks such as riding a snowmobile, hunting, using power tools or listening to rock concerts can damage your hearing over time. Wearing hearing protectors or taking breaks from the noise can protect your ears. Turning down the music volume is helpful too.

Conclusion

Age-related hearing loss is common in elderly and is caused by a variety of genetic, medical and environmental factors. Visit your health care provider as soon as you experience symptoms of hearing loss and depending on degree of your hearing loss they will recommend suitable treatment accordingly.

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Source: Healthline, Hopkins Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Hoffmann Audiology

Disclaimer: This blog provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, website or in any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Kindly contact your Doctor before starting a new medicine or health regime.

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Published on January 12, 2023