Skip Navigation
Skip Main Content

Did You Know…

Age-Related Hearing Loss Can Cause Other Issues?

It’s no secret that as people age, many face age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis. In fact, 1 in 3 adults over the age of 65 have already lost at least some of their ability to hear. 

As we age, the tiny hairs in the inner ear that send information to the brain about the sounds around us can become bent and broken. This damage hinders the hairs’ ability to send this information, decreasing our ability to hear. Also, because this damage happens slowly over an elongated period of time, many individuals won’t notice how severely their hearing has changed.

Unfortunately, research has shown that age-related hearing loss is connected to several other issues, like increased risk of dementia and potentially severe falls. 

At Hearing Unlimited, we’re dedicated to providing our patients with the best age-related hearing loss treatments. Our team of expert audiologists can help lower the risks associated with hearing loss by conducting hearing tests and fitting our patients with hearing aids.

If you’re in need of care for age-related hearing loss, consider scheduling an appointment at one of our five hearing test centers in Pittsburgh, PA, or scheduling a House Call.

Appointments

aging_YWZ4phH.jpeg

Spatial Awareness & You

Hearing Aids for the Elderly Can Reduce Fall Risk

Your ears aren’t only for hearing—they play an important role in helping you keep your balance, as well.

Deep inside the inner ear, a set of structures that make up the vestibular system work together to help your brain understand the way your body is positioned in the world. Alongside these balance structures are other structures that allow you to hear. 

Because these structures share pathways, people with hearing loss often also struggle with their postural balance, making them less stable when they stand or walk.

On top of this, our ability to hear gives us a better sense of our surroundings, or spatial awareness. When a person’s ability to hear is diminished, so is their ability to locate the source of sounds, if they can hear these sounds at all. 

With this impairment to their spatial awareness, a person with hearing loss may miss out on key details about the world around them, leading to misjudged steps or missed obstacles, and ultimately, a fall.

With the assistance of a hearing doctor for the elderly, like the audiologists at Hearing Unlimited, the risk of these falls can be mitigated. With a large selection of hearing aids, our experts can help you stay on your feet, increasing your safety.

Evidence-Based Solutions

Hearing Aids for the Elderly Can Reduce Risk of Dementia

Reputable research has shown that an older person’s risk of developing dementia doubles with mild hearing loss. If the person has severe hearing loss, their risk is five times higher.

Hearing ability is one of the best defenses against dementia, and our audiologists at Hearing Unlimited are here to bolster those defenses. As part of our commitment to our patients, we offer cognitive screening tests, as well as hearing aid services.

Not only do we help our patients find the hearing aids that are best for them, reducing their risk of dementia, but we also offer comprehensive hearing aid care. 

With our Hear For Life Program, we promise to care for your hearing aid throughout the lifetime of the device. If a hearing aid becomes damaged, is in need of cleaning, or requires other maintenance, our patients can come to our hearing centers for care. This program allows our patients to never have to live with a damaged or ineffective device, something that could ultimately cause their hearing to worsen, increasing risk of dementia development.

Schedule an appointment today with our audiologists to receive the compassionate care you deserve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you help me get a hearing aid?

Yes! We offer many different styles and brands of hearing aids in order to best fit your individual needs. After an assessment with one of our specialists, we’ll help you find the perfect hearing aid for you.

Why are hearing aids helpful to aging adults?

Our ability to hear is very important to our overall health. As discussed above, hearing aids can help a person reduce risk of both falls and dementia. On top of these benefits, hearing aids can also help reduce risk of depression and social isolation by allowing a person with age-related hearing loss to more easily and effectively communicate with their loved ones.

Do you conduct hearing tests for adults?

Yes! At Hearing Unlimited, we provide auditory testing for both children and adults. These tests allow us to have a more personal understanding of our patients’ hearing loss, allowing us to better treat and fit them for hearing aids.

How can I get started with the best hearing aid specialist near me?

We’re so glad you asked! If you’re searching for a hearing aid doctor in Pittsburgh, PA, it’s time to schedule an appointment with the audiologists at Hearing Unlimited.