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. 

How to Prepare for a Hearing Test

You are set to see the doctor tomorrow or next week for your hearing test. You are panicking because you have never had one done before. There’s no need to panic, as hearing tests are relatively straightforward. While they are not complicated at all, here are some pointers on how to prepare for a test.

List of Medication and Medical Records

The audiologist will take your medical history before examining your ears. This is because some illnesses can negatively impact your hearing. The examination will go smoothly if you have all your medical records, including medication and key medical events. This ensures you don't forget anything during the appointment where you may find it hard to think on the spot. Therefore, the audiologist has more information to use when diagnosing your hearing problems.

Clean Your Ears

Use a warm washcloth to clean your ears. Wax may be the reason you do not hear properly. Clean your ears at least two days before your appointment. Avoid using cotton swabs or inserting anything as it can easily damage your ear canal.

Avoid Loud Noises

Loud noises may damage your hearing temporarily before the appointment. As part of the hearing test, the audiologist determines the minimum threshold to hear pure tones and conversation. More often than not, this comes when someone has been exposed to loud noises in the hours leading up to their appointment. When this happens, it affects the way you hear. As a result, it may seem like your hearing is a lot worse than it is, messing up the whole test. If your ears are recovering from loud noise, the results will not be accurate. Avoid loud noise for 12 hours before the appointment.

Don’t Go Sick

Some illnesses such as cold can cause fluids in your ears. As the audiologist carries out the test, they are bound to find the liquid, affecting your results and causing inaccuracies.

Grab a Friend

If you are anxious and stressed about the test, a friendly face will help you calm down. Also, you might need a person you have regular conversations with to determine if you have problems with hearing conversations.

Hearing Aids

Sometimes, you can be sure you have a problem with hearing. It is okay to research hearing aids to have an idea of what they are and how they can be beneficial to you if they are recommended after the test.

Preparing for the test will help ease anxiety and put you at ease with the process.  Your hearing test results must come out accurate. Hence avoid loud noises or anything that may tamper with your hearing before the appointment.

If you are looking to book a hearing test, contact Attune hearing clinic for professional audiologist care. Visit our website for more details.