Can Age-Related Hearing Loss be Prevented?

 

What is age-related hearing loss?

Age-related hearing loss is loss of hearing that occurs gradually to most of us as we grow older. This type of hearing loss commonly affects older and elderly adults. Age-related hearing loss can make hearing doorbells, phone ringing, and smoke alarms challenging.

Due to difficulty and straining to understand conversations, one can opt to stay in isolation that leads to feeling lonely and depressed.

 

What causes age-related hearing loss?

The most common cause is the changes that arise in the inner ear as we age. It can also result from middle ear changes or complex changes along the nerve pathways from the ear to the brain.

Some medications and medical conditions can play a significant role too.

 

Can age-related hearing loss be prevented?

The best and most effective way to prevent age-related hearing loss is to protect your hearing.

1. Avoid loud noises

Keep away from blaring noises and minimize noise exposure. Noise is loud enough to damage your hearing if it hurts your ears, you cannot hear what the individual next to you is saying, or you have ringing in your ears or muffled hearing afterward.

     2. Keep the volume of earbuds and headsets at a safe level

If the person near you can hear the music you are listening to, your volume is too loud. Music volume on your earbud should be less than 60% of the maximum volume. Some gadgets have settings that help limit your volume. Use earphones or earbuds for a maximum of one hour, then take a break for five minutes before using them again.

3. Quit smoking

 

4. Get prompt care for health issues, including ear infections

 

5. Wear earplugs or special fluid-filled ear muffs

 

6. Get your hearing tested

Get a test if you are exposed to conditions that might cause hearing loss. The earlier a problem is detected, the earlier something is done. Also, consider getting regular checkups.

 

If you think you may be developing hearing loss, book an appointment to get your hearing tested. At Attune, we offer comprehensive hearing tests to diagnose your hearing loss. Visit our website or contact us for more information. 

What Does an Audiologist Do?

An audiologist is a health care professional who identifies, evaluates, and manages hearing disorders, balance, and other hearing-related issues.

The general duties of an audiologist include:

● Examining patients with hearing or balance-related problems

● choose, adjust and distribute hearing aids and other listening gadgets

● offer and fit protective devices that will help protect one's hearing

● they educate patients on the impact of noise

● assist in research on prevention, identification, and management of hearing loss and other hearing-related issues, including balance

 

When to see an audiologist?

Several signs indicate it is time to visit an audiologist. The signs are related to hearing loss and could indicate that you are experiencing hearing loss problems. The signs include:

1. You are experiencing ringing in the ears with no external sound present. The sounds come from inside the body, and no one else around you seems to be hearing them.

2. Turning the volume of the radio, television or other electronics higher than necessary.

3. You have difficulty understanding speech when there is background noise, and you tend to tell people to repeat themselves frequently.

4. You cannot hear soft sounds, and it is becoming more and more difficult to listen to women and children speak than men.

5. You avoid social gatherings and public speaking due to hearing

6. You have a lot of earwax

7. You are experiencing sudden hearing loss

8. You are due for a checkup.

Conditions that an audiologist can help you with include:

● Hearing disability

● Amplification

● Auditory processing disorders

● Tinnitus

● Hyperacusis and Misophonia

● Balance disorders

Going to the doctor's office is scary sometimes, especially if you are experiencing signs related to hearing loss. However, you must see an audiologist to ensure that your signs are not associated with hearing loss; if they are, the specialist will advise you on what to do.

If you think it’s time you saw an audiologist, book a hearing test at Attune. Our qualified audiologists perform comprehensive hearing tests. Visit our website to book an appointment.