Age Related Deafness

You know that you are getting older when your children start to look middle aged and your knees now buckle but your belt has refused to for some time!

There are more pointers that creep up so gradually that you often fail to realise what is happening – hearing or rather the loss of it can be one of them. Age related hearing loss is one of the most common causes of deafness.

This is a very gradual process that can take a number of years. Most people are not aware of any problems until their hearing loss has reached a level where its impact is felt in everyday communication. Hearing loss due to the aging process is known as presbycusis. It is attributable to degenerative changes in the peripheral auditory system but can also be exacerbated by noise exposure, some medications and vascular disease. It does however tend to affect both ears in the same way.

With age related hearing loss, the high frequency sounds are generally the first to go. These sounds are the consonants we hear – the sounds that help us to make sense of what is being said. So, while you may still hear someone talking, you may think they are mumbling and not be able to make out exactly what is being said to you.

If you are experiencing difficulties with your hearing, you are not alone, about 37% of Britons aged 61 to 70 and 60% of those aged 71 to 80 - 6.5million people in total have age-related hearing loss.

Although the majority of older people are affected, a significant number find it difficult to seek advice and information on their hearing loss. Sometimes, this is because they are unwilling to accept that they have a problem. In other cases, they believe that nothing can be done.

Hearing aids will offer significantly improved hearing.

E-mail: nicola@carlislehearingcentre.co.uk

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