{"id":820,"date":"2024-06-21T16:32:04","date_gmt":"2024-06-21T20:32:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gulfcoastaudiology.com\/?p=820"},"modified":"2024-06-21T16:32:04","modified_gmt":"2024-06-21T20:32:04","slug":"how-does-hearing-change-over-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gulfcoastaudiology.com\/how-does-hearing-change-over-time\/","title":{"rendered":"How Does Hearing Change Over Time?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Our hearing ability allows us to communicate, enjoy music and stay aware of our environment. However, as we age, our hearing ability naturally declines in a condition known as presbycusis. Understanding why this happens and recognizing the signs can help manage and mitigate its effects, maintaining a better quality of life.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>What is Presbycusis?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_761\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-761\" style=\"width: 768px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Man is fitted with hearing aid\" src=\"https:\/\/gulfcoastaudiology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Man-is-fitted-with-hearing-aid-768x512.jpg\" alt=\"Man is fitted with hearing aid\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-761\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gulfcoastaudiology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Man-is-fitted-with-hearing-aid-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gulfcoastaudiology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Man-is-fitted-with-hearing-aid.jpg 1254w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-761\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Man is fitted with hearing aid<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Presbycusis, also known as age-related hearing loss, is the gradual loss of hearing that occurs as people get older. It is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nidcd.nih.gov\/health\/statistics\/quick-statistics-hearing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">about 5% of adults have disabling hearing loss between ages 45-54. That number increases to 10% between ages 55-64.<\/a> The condition may affect both ears equally and is primarily characterized by difficulty hearing high-frequency sounds, such as children\u2019s voices or birds chirping.<\/p>\n<p>Several factors contribute to presbycusis:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Degeneration of inner ear structures:<\/strong> As we age, the hair cells in the cochlea, responsible for transmitting sound signals to the brain, deteriorate. These hair cells do not regenerate, leading to permanent hearing loss.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Changes in blood supply:<\/strong> Reduced blood flow to the inner ear can also contribute to hearing loss. As we age, the small blood vessels that supply the inner ear may become less efficient.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Accumulated noise exposure:<\/strong> A lifetime of exposure to loud noises, whether from work, hobbies or everyday activities, can damage the delicate structures of the inner ear.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Genetic factors:<\/strong> Genetics play a role in how quickly and severely hearing loss progresses. Some people are more predisposed to age-related hearing loss due to their genetic makeup.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Steps to Take<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>If you suspect you or a loved one is experiencing hearing loss, there are several proactive steps you can take:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Regular hearing check-ups:<\/strong> Schedule regular hearing exams with an audiologist, especially if you notice signs of hearing loss. Early detection can help manage the condition more effectively.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Protect your hearing:<\/strong> Minimize exposure to loud noises by using<a href=\"https:\/\/aaronshearingcare.com\/hearing-loss\/hearing-loss-prevention-protection\/\"> ear protection<\/a> in noisy environments and keeping the volume at safe levels when using headphones or listening to music.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Consider hearing aids:<\/strong> Modern <a href=\"https:\/\/aaronshearingcare.com\/hearing-aids\/\">hearing aids<\/a> can significantly improve the quality of life for those with presbycusis. They amplify sounds and enhance speech clarity, making everyday interactions more manageable.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Stay informed:<\/strong> Educate yourself about presbycusis and available treatments. Joining support groups or seeking counseling can also provide emotional and practical support. Take a trusted loved one with you to your first appointment with an audiologist for support.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>While hearing changes over time are a natural part of aging, understanding presbycusis and taking proactive steps can help manage its impact. To learn more or schedule a hearing consultation, contact <span class=\"company-name \">Gulf Coast Audiology<\/span> today.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"related-posts\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/gulfcoastaudiology.com\/what-to-expect-from-an-appointment-with-a-hearing-specialist\/\" class=\"related-post\">What To Expect From an Appointment With a Hearing Specialist<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/gulfcoastaudiology.com\/4-essential-tools-for-hearing-aid-maintenance\/\" class=\"related-post\">4 Essential Tools for Hearing Aid Maintenance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/gulfcoastaudiology.com\/five-common-reasons-you-should-see-an-audiologist\/\" class=\"related-post\">Five Common Reasons You Should See an Audiologist<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our hearing ability allows us to communicate, enjoy music and stay aware of our environment. However, as we age, our hearing ability naturally declines in a condition known as presbycusis. Understanding why this happens and recognizing the signs can help manage and mitigate its effects, maintaining a better quality of life. What is Presbycusis? Presbycusis,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":761,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","schema":"","fname":"","lname":"","position":"","credentials":"","placeID":"","no_match":false,"name":"","company":"","review":"","address":"","city":"","state":"","zip":"","lat":"","lng":"","phone1":"","phone2":"","fax":"","mon1":"","mon2":"","tue1":"","tue2":"","wed1":"","wed2":"","thu1":"","thu2":"","fri1":"","fri2":"","sat1":"","sat2":"","sun1":"","sun2":"","hours-note":"","locid":"","rating":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-820","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hearing-aids","category-hearing-loss"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gulfcoastaudiology.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/820","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gulfcoastaudiology.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gulfcoastaudiology.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gulfcoastaudiology.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gulfcoastaudiology.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=820"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gulfcoastaudiology.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/820\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":823,"href":"https:\/\/gulfcoastaudiology.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/820\/revisions\/823"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gulfcoastaudiology.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/761"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gulfcoastaudiology.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=820"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gulfcoastaudiology.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=820"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gulfcoastaudiology.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=820"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}