Healthy hearing is important for maintaining a good quality of life. Whether you’re listening to the birds in the park, having a conversation with a friend, or enjoying your favorite song — hearing is a powerful connection to the world around you.
Many of us will experience changes in hearing as we age. Nearly 25 percent of people over the age of 65 have some sort of hearing loss, and about half of people over the age of 75 experience hearing loss, says Dr. Erin Voye, an Audiologist with Allina Health.
It’s never too late to protect the hearing you have. Instead of cranking up the volume or drawing back from conversations, you can take steps to manage hearing loss and protect your ears.
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Why it happens
Hearing loss can happen for a variety of reasons. One of the most common causes is presbycusis, which is age-related hearing loss. Hearing loss can also happen because of exposure to loud noises, or simply because of genetics or family history. If you have diabetes or cardiovascular disease, you may also be more prone to hearing loss.
“Typically, hearing loss occurs because the hair cells in the cochlea — which is a hearing organ — start to degenerate as we get older,” Dr. Voye says. “That’s something that can’t be regenerated” (the cells do not grow back).
Common signs and symptoms of hearing loss can include the inability to hear high-pitch sounds, frequently asking others to speak more loudly or clearly, or consistently turning up the volume on your TV or radio.
Protect your hearing
Some changes in hearing can be inevitable, but there are actions you can take to care for your hearing. “It’s never too late to start protecting your hearing,” Dr. Voye says.
Four tips from Dr. Voye:
- Turn it down
Decrease the volume to a comfortable level. - Walk away from it
Distance yourself from loud noises. - Limit time of exposure
Don’t use something noisy for an extended period of time. - Use hearing protection
Consider using ear plugs, earmuffs or custom hearing protection in loud environments.
Get tested
Hearing loss may be obvious for some. But for others, it can be difficult to detect right away.
The American Speech Language and Hearing Association recommends a hearing test every three years for those over the age of 50. A benefit of your health plan is $0 copayment for one routine hearing screening/visit with any in-network provider. For an exam specific to hearing aids, you can use a benefit through TruHearing® that makes the devices more affordable.
“It’s nice to get that baseline hearing test before issues start, and then we can kind of track your hearing from there,” Dr. Voye says. “That way, we’re able to compare back to something. I think many individuals think that if they come in for a hearing test, they assume that they’re going to walk out with hearing aids. But that’s not usually the case.”
But if hearing loss is detected, it’s important to take action right away. If left untreated, hearing loss can contribute to feelings of depression and isolation, and may also cause balance issues.
“Even a mild amount of hearing loss can definitely have effects on the brain and cognitive decline,” Dr. Voye said. “One of the easiest modifiable things that you can do for your hearing is to wear and benefit from hearing aids. There are lots of different hearing aid options out there that we can provide to patients — and it’s different for everybody. It’s not a cookie cutter method.”
By taking steps now to manage and protect your hearing, you can greatly improve your quality of life.
“Get that hearing test with an audiologist,” Dr. Voye says. “From there, we can either talk about communication strategies or the need for amplification. We can work
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