Senior Living News

According to the National Institute on Aging, around a third of people aged 65 to 74 have some degree of hearing loss. For adults aged 75 and over, the rate is around 50%. If you're an older adult dealing with hearing loss or wondering about the potential for it, education is important. Learning about causes of hearing loss can help you protect this function as much as possible, and keeping up with treatments can help you live with hearing loss long term.

What Are Some Common Causes of Hearing Loss?

Age is one of the most common causes of hearing loss. Natural hearing loss that occurs with age is called presbycusis, and it typically occurs slowly over a long period of time. It also tends to impact both ears similarly and may be hereditary to some degree. Presbycusis can make it hard for you to hear what others are saying, particularly in noisy environments, or tolerate loud sounds.

If you experience sudden hearing loss or issues with only one of your ears, that can be one sign that you're dealing with something other than age-related hearing loss. Some other causes of hearing issues include:

• Exposure to loud noise. Loud noise can damage the ear and create permanent hearing loss. If you've been exposed to loud noise in your lifetime, especially over long periods of time, this may explain trouble hearing. To protect hearing functions, turn down the volume on music and other devices, be careful when wearing headphones, and wear ear protection when in noisy environments.
  
  
• Buildup in the ear. Earwax or other debris that builds up in the ear can block sound from entering and interacting with the eardrum. Avoid cleaning your ears with cotton swabs, which can push earwax back into the ear and create blockages. Talk to your doctor about other ways to clean your ear if you are concerned with earwax buildup.
• Health conditions or medications. Some chronic health conditions can lead to hearing loss, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart conditions and bacterial infections. Some medications for heart disease and cancer can have permanent side effects that damage the ear.
• Damage to the eardrum. If the eardrum is punctured or otherwise injured, it can lead to temporary hearing issues.

If you're experiencing hearing loss, it may just be a natural part of the aging process. But, as you can see, it may also be a sign of something else. Talk to your doctor about your concerns so they can check your ears, rule out any other issues and help you get potential help hearing better.

What Challenges Can Hearing Loss Create?

Individuals with hearing loss can face a number of challenges, ranging from communication issues to reduced quality of life. Some issues you might face if you're dealing with hearing loss that isn't treated can include:

• Inability to understand what is being said to or around you
• Not being about to enjoy entertainment such as television or music
• Missing out on sermons in church or educational opportunities
• Potential safety issues from not being able to hear what's around you

Many of these challenges can be met with options for treating or living with hearing loss.

Options for Treating or Living With Hearing Loss

Start by being open about your hearing woes. It's a common issue and there is nothing to be embarrassed about. Most people would rather know you have an issue with hearing so they can accommodate it — that's good for them too, because it improves their communication with you. Some things you can do include:

• Asking people to face you when speaking to you so you can get the added benefit of lip reading, facial expressions and body language and additional volume
• Letting people know when you didn't fully hear what they said so they can repeat it
• Requesting that people who want to have an extended conversation with you move into a quieter location, especially if you're in a group or area where there are other people talking or a lot of background noise

You can also invest in technology to help reduce the impact of hearing loss. Some options can include:

• Hearing aids. These devices help support the hearing functions you have left and ensure you can hear more of what goes on around you. Talk to your doctor about hearing aid options, and ask for a referral to an audiologist if you think this might be a good option for you.
  
  
• Mobile apps. You can download apps that convert speech into text that you can read, helping you understand more of what's being said no matter where you are.
• Alert systems. You can use certain types of systems to get visual cues when certain things happen that are normally tied to audio cues, such as alarms going off or doorbells ringing.
  
  

The first step in combating hearing issues at any age is admitting that you're dealing with them. Then, talk to your medical provider or a staff member at your assisted living community about what next steps might be appropriate for you.