Getting older can come with plenty of perks—more time to spend with grandchildren, the freedom of retirement, and the chance to focus on the things you love. But aging also brings certain challenges, especially when it comes to physical health.
One important area to pay attention to is your hearing. Age-related hearing loss is common, but if left unaddressed, it can quietly impact your ability to stay socially connected, mentally sharp and fully engaged. That’s why it’s essential to keep an eye, and an ear, on your hearing health as you grow older.
How Does Aging Affect My Hearing?
As we age, changes in the inner and middle ear and changes in the nerve pathways that carry sound from the ear to the brain can affect our ability to hear. This process is known as presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss.
Your degree of hearing loss will guide your treatment. Two common hearing loss descriptors include disabling and clinically significant hearing loss.
How Do We Define Disabling Hearing Loss?
Disabling hearing loss is a loss of more than 35 decibels in someone’s better hearing ear. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 5% of people worldwide need rehabilitation to manage this level of hearing loss.
How Do We Define Clinically Significant Hearing Loss?
The term clinically significant hearing loss describes hearing loss advanced enough to require treatment. While the range may vary, some studies include mild, moderate, severe and profound losses under the umbrella of clinically significant.
How Common Is Hearing Loss at My Age?
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) used calculations from the 2015-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to break down the prevalence of disabling hearing loss into four age ranges:
- 45-54 years old: 5%
- 55-64 years old: 10%
- 65-74 years old: 22%
- 75+ years old: 55%
Since hearing loss becomes increasingly common with age, regular hearing tests are essential. Early detection allows you to begin treatment before symptoms interfere with your daily life and well-being.
Contact Midwest Hearing today to schedule your hearing test with one of our trusted specialists.