Think you have to be 70 to start having age-related hearing loss? Think again! According to a recent blog article from The Ability Center of Greater Toledo, hearing loss can start as early as our 40s, and we also don’t do our ears any favors with all that loud music through our headphones.
Hearing loss can sneak up on us gradually so that we don’t notice the difference until the decrease in perception is already pretty significant. Hearing loss also occurs from the top down, that is, higher-pitched sounds are the first to go.
The mechanical process of hearing loss involves the death and destruction of tiny fibers in our ears called cilia that, once gone, do not reproduce or regenerate. Exposure to loud noise for long periods of time can accelerate the loss of these structures.
Whatever the cause, some good news is that there is assistive technology that can help those with hearing loss maintain their independence. Hearing aids are, of course, the first line of defense for hearing loss. Other devices are also available, such as telephone and television amplifiers, that make life with hearing loss more enjoyable. Other technology, such as smoke detectors and doorbells with flashing lights, employ our other senses to help keep us safe.
Be sure to check out that blog post for more information.