Why Ear Hearing Gets Worse as We Age

It seems almost undeniable. As people age, their hearing begins to slowly fail. It happens slowly and for a while it goes unnoticed. For years experts thought this ear hearing loss was related to age and gave the process a name: presbycusis. But in some cultures, most people have great hearing well into their old age and then they might need to wear ear hearing aids. This leads us to believe it is not old age that is the problem. But why is hearing loss so common among older people? A new theory is coming to the forefront – something called “sociocusis”, that may be the real cause.

Sociocusis is basically the effect of the built up of harmful effects living in a modern world has on our hearing. There are three contributing factors:

  • Loud Noise – Noise is in our homes, at our jobs, and in the streets. Every time our ears are blasted with noise, the tiny hair cells in our ears stop working or eve die. This can take years.
  • Stress – This again goes back to the hair cells. They require a good blood supply to be healthy. Stress makes the blood vessels constrict, reducing the amount of blood that passes through them. The hair cells, in turn, don’t get enough oxygen and they die.
  • Medications – There are many medications that can damage the ears. The solution? Simply put, avoid noise whenever possible, even wearing ear protectors at times. Simplify your life to reduce stress, often easier said than done. Make healthy living choices so that you don’t have to take the medications that can hurt your hearing.
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  • Hearing Loss Factors & Hearing Aids
  • Which Type of Hearing Aids Should You Choose?
  • Hearing loss is a sudden or gradual inability to hear sounds