Area Agency on Aging

Unfortunately, hearing loss and aging often go hand in hand. Studies have found that almost 33 of Americans age 65-74 suffer from hearing problems ranging from missing certain words in a conversation to being completely deaf. Over the age of 85, the numbers go up to 50.It’s not known exactly what causes age-related hearing loss, known as presbycusis. It sometimes develops from sensorineural hearing loss, which results from inner ear, auditory nerve, or brain pathway damage. Avoiding exposure to loud noises (for any length of time) and certain prescription drugs can lower your risk, but other factorsincluding heredity, high blood pressure, and aging itselfare sometimes unavoidable. Tinnitus the ringing in the ears that sometimes comes along with hearing lossis also mysterious, but it can be avoided by refraining from smoking, alcohol, and other loud noises. (more…)