By far the most common form of hearing loss is presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss. It affects more than a third of people aged 60 to 70 and almost 80% of people over 80.
In its early stages, age-related hearing loss manifests as increasing difficulty hearing high frequencies. In human speech, high-pitched sounds most often correspond to consonants, and low sounds correspond to vowels. Vowels give speech a shell (envelope), while consonants give it clarity and precision. When a person’s hearing changes with age, they continue to hear vowels, but can no longer hear consonants properly.
Unfortunately, presbycusis is misleading for those who have it. They tend to think that they can hear, but just can’t understand things. They feel like people around them are speaking loud enough, but just slurring or not enunciating, as if they’ve forgotten how to speak right. In extreme cases, hearing loss can lead to irritability and annoyance at others.
Sadly, the misunderstandings that arise from this situation are often chalked up to age and the associated deterioration of perception and cognitive abilities. People who struggle with hearing-related communication problems tend to isolate themselves. They no longer enjoy seeing loved ones, visiting children and grandchildren. They also start to avoid noisy and crowded places. They are ashamed about feeling lost, nodding out of turn, or not being able to take part in an interesting conversation. And all of this happens right at the age when people most need to be surrounded by loved ones. Hearing loss doesn’t just get in the way of socializing, but also culture in general. People lose interest in films and plays because they can’t make out what the actors are saying. They stop laughing at jokes, not because they don’t understand, but because they can’t hear. Music no longer brings the same joy: people stop being able to hear entire instruments or might think the musicians are out of tune.
And that’s not even the worst part. Due to hearing loss, the brain lacks sound stimulation. This can increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or age-related dementia by up to 40%.
If you’ve noticed you often have to ask people to repeat themselves, keep turning up the volume, or have started avoiding noisy places, you should have your hearing checked. If a loved one is exhibiting these behaviours, you may want to encourage them to go get tested.
Contact us to take a free screening test until December 30, 2025.
If a hearing impairment is detected, you’ll be able to directly make an appointment with an audiologist, an ENT doctor, and, if necessary, a hearing aid specialist to help correct your hearing.
Modern hearing aids are almost invisible, and they’re easy to wear and use. Once patients have them, they only wish they’d gotten them sooner. Better hearing leads to better quality of life. You’ll once again be able to hear sounds you lost: the chirping of birds, the murmur of water, baby babble, music. Even more importantly, you’ll regain your ability to communicate with other people.
Contact us today at Clinique Auditive and RVO Aide Auditive Côte St-Luc
5555, Westminster, Suite 317, Côte St-Luc H4W 2J2
To schedule an appointment, simply call (514) 639-1000.
Anna Vandalovski
Audioprosthetist
(Member of the Ordre des Audioprothésistes du Québec)
