Why does our hearing get worse as we age?

AN AUDIOLOGIST GIVES US THE LOWDOWN AND OFFERS SOME EXPERT ADVICE

- 

AS WE get older, one change often creeps in more subtly than others: the slow decline of our hearing.

But why does this happen? We spoke with Hannah Samuels, audiologist at Boots Hearingcare.

What are the first signs of age-related hearing loss?

"Hearing loss is usually a long and gradual process, so a lot of the time it can be difficult for individuals to notice if they're not hearing as well as they used to," says Hannah.

"But, there are some key signs to look out for which could indicate the need to book a free hearing test. Some signs include difficulty keeping up with conversations, regularly having to ask people to repeat themselves, having the TV on too loud for other members of the family, or struggling to follow conversations on the phone."

Why does our hearing tend to decline as we get older?