Age-Related Hearing Loss: 6 Signs You Shouldn't Ignore

The first signs of age-related hearing loss are often subtle: Leaning in to hear someone better. Reaching for the TV remote to turn up the volume. Having to concentrate harder when there’s background noise. Feeling like you’re always asking, “Can you repeat that?” Age-related hearing loss, also known as presbycusis, affects about one-third of older adults according to the National Institute on Aging (NIA). Some older adults also experience tinnitus, which may sound like ringing, clicking, or buzzing in the ears.  

Signs of hearing loss include:

• Trouble understanding people over the phone
• Difficulty understanding others because of background noise
• Trouble following conversations when two or more people are talking
• Asking people to repeat themselves often
• Feeling as if other people are mumbling
• Needing to turn up the volume on the TV higher than other people do

Causes of hearing loss include:  

• Long-term noise exposure
• Genetics
• Diabetes or high blood pressure
• Earwax buildup or a ruptured eardrum  
• Certain medications

But just because hearing loss is common and has many causes doesn’t mean you have to accept it as simply a part of getting older. There are treatments—including hearing aids, certain medications, and surgery—that can help restore hearing and increase your quality of life.

If you feel like you or a loved one are showing signs of hearing loss, connect with a primary care physician. They may recommend you get a hearing evaluation, which is typically performed by an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) provider or an audiologist. It's painless and helps identify cause and severity of hearing loss.

Hearing and your health and safety

Being able to carry a conversation isn’t the only reason to seek treatment if you’re having trouble hearing. The NIA states that even mild hearing loss is linked to an  increased risk for falls and can affect your safety while driving or if you cannot hear warning signals. 

Hearing loss effects reach beyond communication and safety, too.

When you find it hard to hold conversations with friends or family, you’re not only missing what they’re saying—you’re also missing the health benefits of connecting with people you love. As hearing loss progresses, some people begin avoiding social situations because conversations become harder to follow. Others may not recognize how much their hearing has changed, or they may feel uncomfortable discussing it. Over time, this can lead to isolation and loneliness.  

That isolation can affect more than your mental and emotional health: It might also be bad for your cognitive health, or your brain’s ability to think, learn, and remember. The NIA states that social isolation and loneliness have been linked to poorer cognitive function and a higher risk for dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. A 2023 analysis of several studies published in the journal JAMA Neurology found that people who used assistive devices such as hearing aids had a lower risk of long-term cognitive decline compared with those who had hearing loss and didn’t correct it.  

Preventing hearing loss

We cannot control some causes of hearing loss, such as family history. The good news is that others, such as exposure to loud noises, are preventable. To protect your hearing, consider:  

Wearing hearing protection in loud environments, such as concerts or sporting events, or while doing yardwork or working with power tools. Long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 dBA can cause hearing loss. (For reference, the sound of a motorcycle is 80–110 dBA.)

• Taking frequent breaks from noisy environments
• Keeping personal listening devices at a safe volume. Try to keep them around the same volume as a normal conversation.
• Managing chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure
• Having your hearing checked if you notice changes

Addressing hearing loss can help you stay engaged in conversations, maintain relationships, participate in activities you enjoy, and feel more confident in everyday situations. If you notice hearing loss, talk to your primary care physician. They can help determine the cause or recommend a hearing evaluation. Find a primary care provider today.