Conductive Hearing Loss in Seniors: Causes and Treatment Options

Hearing loss is a serious problem that increases with age. The National Institutes of Health report that 22% of people between 65 and 74 suffer from some type of hearing issue. By 75, this figure goes up to 55%.

Conductive hearing loss is one of the main issues that seniors face in terms of hearing. Here, we're going to define this medical issue and discuss its causes and treatment.

Read on to help yourself or your loved one improve hearing and responsiveness!

What Is Conductive Hearing Loss?

Conductive hearing loss is a hearing impairment that frequently impacts seniors. It means that sounds can't reach your inner ear through outer layers.

Basically, those with conductive hearing loss have a blockage or interruption in either their outer or middle ear. Sound waves can't get through this interruption and reach the inner ear.

This inner ear is what lets people hear sound clearly, so it needs to pick up sound waves in order for the ear to work.

Symptoms include:

An inability to hear quiet or soft sounds at all
Decreased hearing of all sounds
Muffled hearing (as though there's water inside the ear or earmuffs covering it)
A lack of responsiveness when other people speak (due to an inability to hear the speech)
Pressure buildup in the ear that can cause feelings of fullness and discomfort
Potential tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the affected ear)

Those with conductive hearing loss can sometimes undergo successful treatment. However, most seniors suffering from it will manage the hearing loss with hearing aids.

Risk Factors for Hearing Impairment

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association notes that there are several potential causes of conductive hearing loss. Some of the most common include:

Earwax stuck in the ear canal
Ear infections that worsened over time
Fluid trapped in the middle ear (frequently caused by colds and allergies)
Water that sat in the ear for too long (after swimming or water aerobics)
Poor function of the tube that connects the middle ear to the nose (since this tube drains out fluid from the ear)
A hole in the eardrum
Something stuck inside the ear, like a grain of sand or dirt

Genetic ear canal deformities also may cause conductive hearing loss. Some people may be:

Born with no outer ear
Born with deformed ear canals
Have issues with their middle ear's bone structure

However, these deformities will usually begin causing issues earlier in life rather than only during old age.

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders also clearly denotes age as a risk factor for hearing loss.

Age-related hearing loss is frequently caused by changes in the middle ear. Nerve pathways between the ears and brain may also decline. Senior hearing loss is also often genetic, so those whose parents lost hearing as they aged are more susceptible to do so themselves.

Some conditions common in older people may make hearing loss more likely as well. Hearing loss may be exacerbated by:

Long-term noise exposure
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Cancer (due to the side effects of chemotherapy drugs)

While age doesn't directly cause conductive hearing loss, it can greatly contribute to its prevalence.

Improving Senior Hearing Health

Some people choose to get surgery for their conductive hearing loss. The medical treatment will depend on underlying causes.

Some people may need ear tube placement, which means that a doctor will put a small tube in the ear. Then, they'll drain fluid that's built up inside the ear from this tube.

Others will need to remove and replace a small bone inside their middle ear or repair a torn eardrum.

If an infection is the underlying cause of conductive hearing loss, some antibiotics may be able to treat it.

However, since conductive hearing loss is frequently a product of age, treatment usually isn't surgical. Assistive devices make it easier for seniors to hear without invasive treatments.

Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are one of the best technologies for seniors suffering from conductive hearing loss. They amplify sound waves from external sources as they enter the ear. This makes sounds seem louder and clearer to the person wearing the hearing aid.

There are also some more heavy-duty specialized hearing aids that some older adults may enjoy.

These bone-conduction hearing aids let sounds detour around the middle ear completely. Instead, they take sound waves and move them directly from the outer ear to the bones inside the wearer's skull. This alternative route to the brain lets seniors hear sounds more directly.

Audiology Services

The best treatment for age-related hearing loss will depend on the causes and symptoms. These aren't the same across the board. They'll vary from person to person, as will treatment plans.

Audiology services involve a healthcare specialist who performs a hearing assessment. They may also assess the person's balance when diagnosing their specific issue.

These assessments help with:

Diagnosing auditory processing disorders
Preventing future hearing loss with protective devices
Diagnosing and managing tinnitus
Fitting hearing aids to the wearer's ear so they work correctly

Those in senior living communities may want to get an audiology assessment. Whether you thrive in independent living or assisted senior living, knowing what's going on in your ears can help you preserve your senses and your autonomy.

This is true even for those who aren't sure whether they're having hearing problems. After all, clearer hearing can benefit everyone, and getting tested is a simple way to ensure you're having the highest possible quality of life!

Unlock Top Senior Living in San Antonio

Conductive hearing loss can greatly impact senior quality of life. Luckily, a great senior living community can help residents get back on track and take their health and wellness into their own hands.

At Discovery Village Stone Oak, we're committed to helping seniors with hearing disabilities adapt to using hearing aids and other assistive devices. We're also excited to meet residents with compassion and provide advice on how to adapt to life with hearing issues.