---
url: 'https://www.healthinaging.org/a-z-topic/hearing-loss'
title: 'Hearing Loss'
author:
  name: 'Jennifer Cross'
  url: 'https://www.healthinaging.org/user/102'
date: '2018-11-06T15:59:45+00:00'
updated: '2023-06-01T15:42:19+00:00'
type: topic
summary: 'About a third of adults older than 65—and half of those older than 85—have some hearing problem. It is the third most common chronic disease among older adults. Hearing loss is more than an inconvenience. It can lead to depression, withdrawal, anger, loss of self-esteem, and overall unhappiness with life.'
tags:
  - Health
published: true
---
 Hearing loss is being unable to hear the sounds needed to understand speech. Aging is related to increased hearing loss. Hearing loss can also be caused by medications.

Treating hearing loss can improve the quality of a person’s life, delay decline in thinking skills, and relieve depression.

[Basic Facts](/a-z-topic/hearing-loss/basic-facts)

[Causes](/a-z-topic/hearing-loss/causes)

[Symptoms](/a-z-topic/hearing-loss/symptoms)

[Diagnosis & Tests](/a-z-topic/hearing-loss/tests)

[Care & Treatment](/a-z-topic/hearing-loss/care-treatment)

[Lifestyle & Management](/a-z-topic/hearing-loss/lifestyle)