A Guide to Presbycusis

Age-related hearing loss is also known as presbycusis. While it might not be a commonly known term, it is a common experience for many people to face as time passes and they enter their later years. It is important for everyone to learn about presbycusis, regardless of whether or not they are currently having hearing loss, because they may know someone experiencing it right now or will do so themselves in the future. So, what is presbycusis and how your hearing health professional can assist you?

What are the Symptoms of Presbycusis?

It is important to note that not everyone will have the same or all of the symptoms of age-related hearing loss. Here are some of the common symptoms to be aware of:

• Intermittent or constant ringing or buzzing in the ears, also known as tinnitus.
• Difficulty hearing conversations when in a loud restaurant.
• Inability to hear high-pitched sounds, like alarms.
• Constantly needing to turn up the volume on devices.

What are the Potential Causes of Presbycusis?

The idea of aging is usually accepted as the reason for hearing loss; however, there are potential causes that may impact your ability to hear other than the amount of time that has passed in your life. Some of them include:

• Genetics: If your immediate family members experienced hearing loss, you may, too.
• Noise exposure: Prolonged exposure to high levels of sound can cause hearing loss.
• Medications: Research suggests inner ear damage from using certain medications.
• Medical conditions: Specific medical conditions, such as diabetes, stroke and coronary heart disease, may lead to hearing loss.

How Can Presbycusis Affect Your Life?

Presbycusis can affect your daily life in various ways. It can make it difficult to hear and understand conversations, especially in busy or noisy environments, leading to misunderstandings. You might struggle with hearing the phone ring or alarms, which can disrupt your routine and safety. Social activities, like attending gatherings or watching movies, may become less enjoyable if you can’t hear clearly. This hearing loss can also make you feel more isolated or frustrated, as it becomes harder to stay connected with others. Seeking help and finding ways to manage it can greatly improve your quality of life.

How Is Presbycusis Managed?

The first step in managing presbycusis is to schedule an appointment with a hearing health professional. They are trained to assess your hearing and find the most suitable and comfortable management solution to help you hear more clearly. From hearing aids to attending to your ear canal health, here are some possible options they will discuss with you during your appointment:

• Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids.
• In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids.
• Receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids.
• In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids.

Contact Your Hearing Health Professionals Today.

Contact your hearing health professional today to learn more about how they can help you or someone you love with the next steps towards managing hearing loss. Let them be your guide on how to best approach and manage hearing loss so you can have a better quality of life.