Although hearing loss, which occurs gradually as you age (presbycusis), is normal, regular hearing tests beginning in childhood are vital for early identification and management of hearing loss. By the time you reach the ages of 65-75, almost 30% of Americans have some degree of hearing loss.  Hearing loss can make life less pleasant, which can lead to depression. The ability to easily communicate with others makes many people feel cut off from society. Additionally, hearing loss can lead to loss of thinking skills (cognitive impairment) and even physical issues, such as losing balance and the risk of falling.  

Preventative care for your hearing

The following steps can help prevent hearing loss from loud noises and keep hearing loss from aging from getting worse:

Protect your ears regardless of your age. Staying away from loud noise is obvious, but sometimes you can’t avoid it:

• If your work or hobby means being near loud machinery and equipment, it is advisable to purchase reliable earplugs or earmuffs.
• Love going to hear live music? Noise-canceling earplugs can tune out all the background noise so you can safely hear the music. If you are bringing a youngster with you, be sure to purchase child-sized earmuffs for them.

Have your hearing tested. If you work around a lot of noise, think about regular hearing tests. If you don’t experience loud noise regularly, you would still benefit from an occasional hearing test. That way, if you’ve lost some hearing, you can take steps to prevent further loss.