Do you sometimes need to ask people to repeat themselves? Are people noticing that your TV is louder than usual? These may be signs of hearing loss.

It’s important to know that hearing loss is perfectly normal. As we age, cells that help us determine sound are no longer replaced, which affects the quality of our hearing. This is known as presbycusis.

Knowing the signs

Here are the most common signs of presbycusis:

• Difficulty distinguishing between words (said and head, late and date)
• Trouble distinguishing words in noisy environments
• Communication becoming harder (asking people to repeat themselves)

These communication problems may lead to isolation, since the person with hearing loss may no longer enjoy discussions or get-togethers. Fortunately, there are ways to limit the effects of presbycusis.

What can I do?

You can use many tools to limit the effects of presbycusis. Here are some examples:

• Hearing aids: Hearing aids allow people to rediscover the joys of hearing and understanding.
• Communication strategies: These strategies allow hearing-impaired people to communicate more easily with those around them.
• Assistive listening devices: These can greatly simplify the lives of hearing-impaired people by providing them a safe living environment.

People with presbycusis need to stay in touch with their friends and family, and these tools can certainly help!