Hearing loss is no fun and no laughing matter. Many TV comedies will make fun of this condition, but they shouldn’t, considering how many older adults suffer from it. In most, with age there will come an imminent diminishing in hearing capacity. We are here to help you recognize the first signs of hearing loss so that you can contact your doctor as soon you feel something is wrong with your hearing.
Hearing Loss Signs
Hearing loss is not something that happens overnight. It is a condition that progresses gradually. But even so, it can unpleasantly surprise you. Therefore, you need to be on constant alert for all signals of hearing loss so that you react as quickly as possible. This condition affects 25% of seniors aged between 55 and 64. More than 50% of the population older than 65 will be affected. Below we have listed some of the symptoms that could point you in the direction of hearing loss:
- Constant need to turn the volume up on either the radio or TV.
- While talking to someone or listening to a TV or radio program, the speech starts to feel muffled.
- Having difficulties hearing consonants.
- Inability to understand different words due to the interference of background noise.
- Having people repeat to you something they have just said.
- Avoiding crowded places where conversations are a must, and avoiding conversations in general.
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If you have already experienced one or more of these symptoms, you need to see your doctor straight away. If you report to your medic in time, it will be easier for them to determine what’s causing your hearing loss and prescribe the right treatment.
Most Common Age of Hearing Loss
Most people wonder when hearing loss appears, both in men and women. Although it’s possible to lose your hearing at a young age, this is not a frequent occurrence. Most people, regardless of their gender, experience the first signs of hearing loss between the ages of 65 and 74.
One of the primary reasons why this happens in this particular age is because of the loss of hair cells. With age, most of these cells start to disappear on their own. When people are younger, these hairs collect sound waves and turn them into nerve signals. After that our brain receives these signals in the form of sounds that are familiar to us.
All in all, if you are older than 65 and start asking yourself about hearing loss, the chances are that you are already experiencing it.
Hearing Loss on One Side
One of the most frequent questions asked in regards to hearing loss is if people can be deaf only in one ear. The answer is yes, they can. This condition is known as unilateral deafness. The appearance of this condition is not strictly related to the age of an individual. In most cases a person loses hearing in only one ear due to an injury, an illness, or some other type of situation that can cause a blockage in their ear.
While our hearing will diminish on its own due to old age, this is no reason why we should just live with it and accept it. The first thing you can do is to take a hearing test. After turning 55, it is recommended to have at least one hearing test a year. Thanks to this it will be easier for your doctor to see what’s happening with your hearing and be able to take action as soon as something’s not right.
One of the biggest joys in life is the ability to hear your loved ones and the entirety of life that is going around us. Because of this, stay alert, and protect your hearing.
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