Does Hearing Loss Get Worse over Time?

The Ticking of the Clock: Does Hearing Loss Get Worse over Time?

Helen has a problem every time she flies. Since she was a youngster, the change in air pressure has caused her considerable pain. And, it always takes several days to restore her hearing. She has tried all the recommended solutions — chewing gum, nose spray, antihistamines, and so on. But they haven’t worked. And, as she got older, the hearing loss has gotten worse. But Helen’s problem is only one facing the millions hearing the tick of the clock.

Hearing loss does get worse over time.

The U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce reports, “About 20 to 40 percent of adults older than age 50 and nearly 80 percent of adults older than 80 have some hearing loss.” They call age-related hearing loss presbycusis, and it is common among the aging, even among people who are otherwise healthy.

Family, friends, and co-workers will notice it first. But you may slowly become aware that you don’t hear the phone or doorbell. Perhaps you are faking your way through conversations or raising the television volume. Sadly, hearing loss adds to your feelings of isolation.

One ear or the other may be affected by injury or exposure to loud and repeated noise. But presbycusis occurs in both ear ears equally. The ear works on a mechanical system with one small part triggering another to beat a drum. And, like all mechanical systems, it can break down over time. The performance in the middle ear and inner ear have worked a lifetime, and there’s no surprise they lose functionality, flexibility, and resilience.

So, what can you do?

You can’t stop the clock. But you can address the problem of hearing loss:

• Seek regular treatment from a hearing specialist (audiologist) in your fifties to build a medical history of your condition and therapy. Of course, you should start sooner if you suspect a problem.
• Have your ears professionally cleaned regularly by an Otolaryngologist. The wax buildup will reduce hearing even if your ears are healthy.
• Schedule hearing testing periodically. Hearing devices, like Oticon hearing aids, can make a real difference in your life. For example, you will find RIC hearing aids offer the best sound quality.

A proper diagnosis may find the hearing loss is related to diabetes, cardiac history, or other medical condition. It may improve with treatment for those conditions, or it may worsen because of pharmaceuticals or other therapies. You can also visit medicalprices.co.uk for their guide on hearing loss and hearing aids.

It means a change in lifestyle.

As with all things age-related, you’ll have to attempt hearing loss as age inevitable. There is nothing gained in resisting it. As they say at Johns Hopkins, “If your hearing loss is significant enough, you may need some type of hearing aid or other aids to communicate with others.” And, today’s technology makes diagnosis more accurate and hearing devices more effective. No one expects hearing aids to “cure” age-related hearing loss. They will not make you twenty again, but they should improve your ability to hear and reduce the stress on your aging ears.

Guest Article. Contains sponsored links.