Being together with your children, grandchildren or nieces and nephews is a fulfilling and joyful experience. Whether you’re putting together puzzles, playing in one of Salem’s local parks or having fun at Ollie’s Pizza & Game Center, you want to make sure you’re engaged and present for every moment.
Hearing loss can make it harder to enjoy many of the things you love, including spending time with the children in your life.
Hearing Loss Becomes More Common with Age
While hearing loss can occur at any time, it becomes more common the older you get. According to Johns Hopkins University, one in three adults over the age of 65 has hearing loss. However, because it often comes on gradually, many adults don’t realize they may have a problem until years after a hearing loss has started to occur.
One of the earliest signs of age-related hearing loss (also known as presbycusis) is that it becomes harder to understand higher-pitched sounds. These sounds can include things like your phone beeping, birds chirping, and children’s voices. Additional signs of presbycusis can include:
- Thinking as though other people are mumbling.
- Having trouble understanding speech when there is background noise.
- Difficulty discerning between separate voices when multiple people are talking at once.
- Trouble following phone conversations.
- A ringing or buzzing in the ears is known as tinnitus.
- Needing to turn the volume up louder than usual when watching TV or listening to music.
- Having family members or friends comment on your hearing.
Can Age-Related Hearing Loss Be Cured?
Some forms of hearing loss, like when you have an ear infection or earwax buildup, can be reversed. However, hearing loss related to age is caused by damage to the hair cells of the inner ear. These cells cannot be repaired medically or through surgery, so this type of hearing loss is, unfortunately, permanent.
Hearing Aids Can Help You Enjoy Time with Your Children and Grandchildren
While age-related hearing loss can’t be reversed, it can be treated successfully with hearing aids. The first step towards better hearing is to schedule an appointment for a hearing test. An audiologist will use these results, coupled with information about your style, technology preferences and overall lifestyle, to help find the right pair for you.
Hearing aids make it easier to process speech and amplify the sounds you struggle to hear on your own. These features make it easier to spend time with your children or grandchildren without worrying that you’re missing out on anything.
To learn more about how hearing aids can help you, call Willamette ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery today.
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