If you or a relative does not hear well, requires the volume of the TV to be increased or struggles to hear clearly in groups, then this may be due to a hearing loss.
The most common cause of hearing loss in adults is ‘sensorineural hearing loss’ which is a result of damage to the internal structures of the inner ear. This may be a result of the ageing process (presbycusis), as a result of noise damage or may be something that has been present since birth. The management of sensorineural hearing loss is via hearing aids or implantable devices dependent on the severity of the hearing loss identified. Hearing loss in adults usually affects the higher frequency range, meaning that we hear less clearly. As a result, adults with hearing loss may ask for repetition and will most likely struggle to hear in background noise.