Causes of Hearing Loss in Older Adults

Aging comes with expected wear and tear, and while everyone’s body changes differently, some bodily functions will begin to work improperly as an individual grows old. A common issue that may arise as a senior ages is the complete loss of hearing or not being able to hear as well as he or she used to.

Hearing loss affects more than 20% of Americans or 48 million people, but the issue becomes much more common as people age. One in three people over the age of 65 reports suffering from some form of hearing loss and about half of people over the age of 75 represent signs of hearing loss. With this condition being inevitable for some people, it is important that seniors and their family members understand the possible causes of age-related hearing loss.

Common Causes of Hearing Loss in Seniors

Changes in Ear Structure

Changes in the structures of the inner ear can cause changes in the nerves in the cochlea that send the sound signals to the brain. This cause of hearing loss occurs in every individual, but in different variations. The more severe cases of changes in ear structure can be due to loud work environments or long-term exposure to loud noises.

Diabetes

Older individuals that suffer from diabetes are especially prone to age-related hearing loss. Hearing loss is twice as common in individuals with diabetes, but scientists have only just begun delving into the reasons why. One hypothesis is that the high glucose levels in the blood cause damage to the blood vessels in the inner ear, but more research is currently being done on the relation between diabetes and hearing loss.

Poor Circulation or Changes in Blood flow to the Ear

The inner ear is extremely sensitive to blood flow, and a decrease in blood flow within the body means a decrease blood flow to the inner ear, which can cause low-frequency hearing loss and other damage. Actually, a decrease in the ability to hear can be one of the first major warning signs of cardiovascular disease in older adults.

Family History of Hearing Loss

A family history of hearing loss can cause post-lingual hearing loss, although this cause of hearing loss isn’t the most common among older adults. Although similarly to many other diseases and disabilities that come along with aging, if both parents and grandparents of a senior were deaf by the time they were 80, and there were no environmental factors present, it’s likely that the senior will suffer from hearing loss as well.

Nerve Impairment

Any damage to the auditory nerve or brain may affect a senior’s ability to hear. This form of hearing loss is called sensorineural hearing loss and can also be caused by overexposure to loud noises.

Smoking

People typically focus on the long-term effects of smoking on the lungs or other parts of the body, so not many people know that smokers are more than 70 percent more likely to experience hearing loss in their old age than non-smokers.

Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease

This is a disease that comes with progressive hearing loss and dizziness because antibodies are attacking the inner ear. Most individuals that suffer from this disorder represent signs of dizziness or inability to balance before they begin to lose their hearing.

It’s crucial for seniors to understand all of the risk factors and causes of age-related hearing loss, and it’s even more important that seniors see a physician if they are exhibiting any signs or symptoms of hearing loss so that they are treated in a timely manner.