More than half of people in the United States above age 75 have age-related hearing loss. About 15 percent of United States adults (37.5 million) report having trouble hearing, and approximately one in three people in the United States between the ages of 65 and 74 have hearing loss.

Dr. Ryan Casserly, Otolaryngology, offers tips on hearing loss, recognizing warning signs, and hearing loss remedies.

Know what to look for

The most common type of hearing loss is age-related hearing loss, and that's hearing loss that typically affects the high frequencies; Casserly said. If there is a sign of tinnitus, or people having difficulty hearing conversations, it may be a sign that there's high-frequency hearing loss.

Recognizing the warning signs is important, because hearing loss doesn't always sound like things are quieter. Hearing loss can be a ringing or buzzing or hissing in the ear, Casserly said. "And if that's the case, it's a good idea to come see someone for a hearing test."

Casserly says that one of the biggest misconceptions about hearing loss is that you have to be profoundly deaf before you address it. The sooner we can help people along that path, the better off they will be.

Treatment

Hearing loss treatment options include hearing aids, which work by making sounds louder, or cochlear implants, which bypass the damaged inner ear to send sound signals directly to the auditory nerve to restore hearing. Casserly, who specializes in advanced ear surgery, hearing restoration, vestibular migraine, and balance care, is California's only cochlear implant surgeon between San Jose and Los Angeles.

Learn more about Montage Health's audiology services.