Aging and Hearing Loss: Recognizing Normal Changes vs. Hearing Loss

As you age, your body goes through many changes. Your hearing ability can change too. In fact, about one-third of older adults have some degree of hearing loss, according to the National Institute on Aging. The ENT specialists at Otolaryngology Plastic Surgery Associates provide a wide range of ENT services, including diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss. They have three convenient office locations in Doylestown, Lansdale, and Sellersville, PA.

What You Need To Know About Hearing Loss and Aging

There are several factors which can lead to hearing loss, including:

• Buildup of earwax
• Excessive noise exposure
• Ear infections
• Ruptured eardrums
• Trauma to your ears
• Having heart disease or diabetes
• Taking certain medications including aspirin and antibiotics

One of the most common causes of hearing loss is aging. As you age, hearing changes may be so gradual that they are difficult to notice. When you have age-related hearing changes, you may notice:

• Difficulty hearing high-pitched noises like a phone ringing
• Men’s voices are easier to hear than women’s voices
• Some sounds seem excessively loud
• Ringing in one or both ears

Additional signs of hearing loss which may or may not be related to aging include:

• Hearing only muffled speech or sounds
• Difficulty picking out speech from background noise
• Needing people to speak more loudly or slowly

Regular hearing tests are vital, and you should have one every 10 years up until age 50, and every 3 years after that. Your ENT specialist will administer a simple hearing test to determine if you are experiencing hearing loss and to what degree.

Hearing aids can help restore your hearing. There are several types of hearing aids, and your ENT specialist can help you make the best choice for your needs.

Want To Know More About Hearing Loss and Aging?

To learn more about age-related hearing problems and hearing loss, call the ENT specialists at Otolaryngology Plastic Surgery Associates. You can reach them in:

• Doylestown, PA, by calling (215) 348-1152
• Lansdale, PA, by calling (215) 368-5290
• Sellersville, PA, by calling (215) 453-8900

Call today.