Hearing and Vision Changes With Age

Hearing changes

About one-third of older adults have hearing loss, and the chance rises with age. [1] Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) comes on gradually, usually in both ears, and may run in families; because it is gradual, you may not notice it. [1] [2] Loud noise is one of the most common causes. [1]

Signs people notice: trouble following conversations with two or more people, asking people to repeat themselves, turning up the TV, trouble understanding on the phone or in background noise. [1] [3] These signs do not diagnose anything; a hearing test does.

What helps: see your doctor. Hearing aids, special training, certain medications and surgery are some treatments. [1] Since 2022, the FDA has had a category of over-the-counter hearing aids for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss that can be bought without a hearing test; if they do not work or you have trouble with loud sounds, consult a hearing health professional. [2]

Sudden hearing loss should be considered a medical emergency; see a doctor immediately. [1]

Medicines can affect hearing: NIA notes some medicines damage the inner ear, including some antibiotics, cancer and heart medicines, and aspirin at some dosages; check with your doctor if you notice a problem while taking a medicine. [1] Never stop a prescribed medicine without advice.

Hearing and memory: what the evidence shows

Evidence labels: established recommendation, promising but limited, mixed, insufficient evidence.

Hearing loss is also linked to withdrawal, depression, social isolation, loneliness and a higher risk of falls. [1] See social connection and loneliness, falls and balance problems and Brain-healthy habits for memory.

Vision changes

• Cataracts: a cloudy area in the eye's lens. They are very common with age; more than half of Americans age 80 or older have cataracts or have had surgery. Cataract surgery is safe and corrects the vision problems caused by cataracts. [5] NHS lists blurred vision, difficulty seeing at night and glare sensitivity as common symptoms, and says recovery from surgery is quick and serious complications are rare. [6]
• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD): damage to the part of the retina that controls sharp, straight-ahead vision. It is a leading cause of vision loss in older adults and does not cause complete blindness. Early dry AMD may cause no symptoms, so regular eye exams matter. [7] NHS says vision can worsen gradually over several years and then quickly over a few weeks or months. [8]
• Supplements for AMD: NEI says that for intermediate AMD in one or both eyes, special dietary supplements (vitamins and minerals) may be able to stop it from turning into late AMD. This applies to people diagnosed with AMD under eye care, not to general anti-aging use. [7] Ask your eye doctor.
• Vision and falls: even small changes in sight are linked with a higher risk of falls, and a Cochrane review found first-eye cataract surgery in women reduced the rate of falls in one trial. [9] [10]

Safety and professional care

Do not self-treat eye or ear symptoms with supplements. For medicine questions see medication interactions and multiple medicines.

When to get help

See a doctor promptly for sudden hearing loss, ear pain or drainage. [1] See an optician or eye doctor if you notice blurred or cloudy vision, trouble at night, or wavy or missing central vision. [6] [7] More on warning signs and when to get help.