Hearing & Eye Age-Related Diseases

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Presbycusis, also known as age-related hearing loss, is the gradual loss of hearing that occurs with age. It is the most common type of hearing loss, affecting about one-third of adults over the age of 65.

Signs and Symptoms of Presbycusis

The most common signs and symptoms of presbycusis include:

• Difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds, such as women's voices, children's voices, and bird calls.
• Difficulty understanding conversations in noisy environments.
• Having to ask people to repeat themselves.

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• Turning up the volume on the TV or radio.
• Feeling like people are mumbling.
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

Causes of Presbycusis

Presbycusis is caused by changes in the inner ear that occur with age. These changes can include:

• Loss of hair cells in the cochlea.
• Damage to the nerves in the inner ear.
• Changes in the way the brain processes sound.

Risk Factors for Presbycusis

The following factors can increase your risk of developing presbycusis:

• Age. The risk of presbycusis increases with age.
• Family history. If you have a family history of hearing loss, you are more likely to develop presbycusis.
• Noise exposure. Exposure to loud noises can damage the inner ear and increase the risk of presbycusis.
• Smoking. Smoking can damage the blood vessels in the inner ear and increase the risk of presbycusis.
• Other medical conditions. Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, can increase the risk of presbycusis.

Diagnosis of Presbycusis

If you are experiencing any of the signs or symptoms of presbycusis, you should see a doctor or audiologist for a diagnosis. An audiologist can perform a hearing test to determine the extent of your hearing loss.

Treatment for Presbycusis

There is no cure for presbycusis, but there are treatments that can help improve hearing. These treatments include:

• Hearing aids. Hearing aids can amplify sound and make it easier to hear.
• Cochlear implants. Cochlear implants are devices that are surgically implanted in the inner ear. Cochlear implants can help people with severe hearing loss hear again.

Prevention of Presbycusis

There is no way to completely prevent presbycusis, but there are things you can do to reduce your risk of developing it, such as:

• Protecting your ears from loud noises. Wear earplugs or earmuffs when exposed to loud noises.
• Avoiding smoking.
• Managing any underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Living with Presbycusis

Presbycusis can make it difficult to communicate and interact with others. However, there are things you can do to make it easier to live with presbycusis, such as:

• Using hearing aids or cochlear implants.
• Sitting closer to people when talking.
• Asking people to speak slowly and clearly.
• Using amplified telephones and other devices.
• Joining a support group for people with hearing loss.

Here are some additional tips for living with presbycusis:

• Be patient and understanding. It may take some time to adjust to hearing loss.
• Be assertive. Don't be afraid to ask people to repeat themselves or to speak up.
• Let your loved ones know about your hearing loss. They can help you out by speaking clearly and slowly, and by turning down the volume on the TV and radio.
• Take advantage of assistive devices. There are many devices available to help people with hearing loss, such as amplified telephones, captioning devices, and sign language interpreters.
• Join a support group. Talking to other people with hearing loss can help you feel less alone and can provide you with helpful tips and advice.

Conclusion

Presbycusis is a common type of hearing loss that occurs with age. There is no cure for presbycusis, but there are treatments that can help improve hearing and make it easier to live with hearing loss. If you are experiencing any of the signs or symptoms of presbycusis, you should see a doctor or audiologist for a diagnosis and treatment.