Hearing And Quality Of Life In Older Adults

As they say, age doesn’t come alone – it brings a range of health conditions that can affect your quality and make you feel like you are holding it all together. Hearing degradation is a common occurrence because of the aging process and it differs slightly from other losses developed because of noise-induced hearing loss:

• Presbycusis is the technical word for age-related hearing loss – a common condition
• Most older adults will experience hearing loss of some kind throughout their lives
• Hearing loss can create issues with social and mental wellbeing in the later years
• The best response to presbycusis is a hearing device and some lifestyle changes

Hearing health might not have been a priority in the past, but when it starts to disappear, it can affect your social life and general mental wellbeing. It’s always best to start a hearing journey with a professional opinion.

What is Presbycusis?

Presbycusis is the technical word for age-related hearing loss, it describes a range of processes, including the degeneration of the cochlea, but presbycusis can also result from long-term exposure to loud or persistent noise. It’s common in people over the age of 50.

Most people will experience presbycusis at some point in their lives – and especially in their later years. Presbycusis can range from mild to severe and can include tinnitus and hyperacusis. Someone experiencing presbycusis might require a hearing aid device, but lifestyle changes can also be effective. For instance, stress reduction can manage the symptoms of tinnitus.

Hearing in Older Adults

These days, people are living longer and maintaining better health well into their later years, which is why there is a rise in presbycusis and other hearing-related issues. It’s important to manage hearing issues carefully in later life as they can also affect social and mental health.

Cilia are tiny hairs attached to the cochlear in the inner ear; they are very fragile and don’t grow back when they are damaged or destroyed. It’s for this reason that older people start to lose their ability to hear. Not only does hearing loss cause everyday communication issues, but it also affects mental health leading to isolation and self-esteem issues that are also avoidable.

Social Issues of Hearing Loss

No matter what age you are, hearing loss can affect your confidence and participation in conversations; with older adults who may be a little isolated anyway, this can be an even more troubling situation. Hearing loss might prevent an older person from connecting with others.

Social issues lead to mental health issues like anxiety and depression, which can seriously affect someone’s quality of life. When someone can’t hear everything that is being said, they are less likely to respond in case they get it wrong, leading to a lack of engagement with social groups. However, using a healing device can significantly improve their quality of life overall.

Personal Issues of Hearing Loss

Mental health issues are not unique to older people; they can affect people of any age; however, older people might be more vulnerable due to their lack of mobility, contact with the outside world, and other health conditions that impact their general wellness levels along with hearing.

It is common for older people with hearing loss to also experience depression and anxiety, but it is even more troubling because the onset of these conditions can be gradual and difficult to perceive – especially for an individual. To maintain good mental health and better life quality, it is important for older people to use a hearing aid device and stay connected to their social groups.

Best Response to Presbycusis

Presbycusis is very common, and people are almost guaranteed to experience it at some point in their lives, so what are the best responses? The first requirement is to become aware of the issue and make lifestyle changes early to prevent its development, such as wearing earplugs.

If someone is diagnosed with presbycusis by a medical professional or an audiologist, they can make some lifestyle changes, have a hearing device fitted, or a combination of both. Even when someone requires a hearing aid device, they can still make some lifestyle changes to support better hearing. Optimize the device for personal use and practice breathing to reduce stress.

Not everyone will lose their hearing in later life, but the risks of hearing damage and deterioration increase with age; for this reason, it is important to maintain suitable lifestyle habits throughout your life to prevent hearing loss. If you encounter presbycusis or another hearing issue, contact Hearing Solutions Inc at (701) 566-7280 to speak with a qualified professional who can help you figure out the right treatment plan.