| As we all know, humans have 5 senses - many | | | | diminish with age. |
| scientists argue that there are in fact many more. | | | | Our sight deteriorates with age, as we get older many |
| However the common response to the question, 'how | | | | of us will find that we need to wear reading glasses. |
| many sense are there?' is 5. The classification of | | | | As time goes on, we may find that we need |
| these 5 senses has been attributed to the philosopher | | | | permanent aids to our sight. As with age, our hearing is |
| Aristotle. He explored the senses and referred to them | | | | the other sense that often gets worse over time. But |
| as the ways in which we perceive the world around | | | | why is it that there are only two senses that get |
| us | | | | worse with age when the other stay relatively in tact? |
| Sight | | | | With regards to our hearing, it is thought that the |
| This is the unique ability of our brains and eyes to take | | | | complexity of the hearing system has got something |
| different waves of light and reconstruct them to | | | | to do with it. Damage to the cochlea (tiny hair cells in |
| produce an image of what is around us. | | | | the ear) is the most common cause of hearing loss. |
| Touch | | | | These tiny hairs are so very delicate and extremely |
| Our fingertips are a highly sensitive tool that can be | | | | necessary to our hearing. As we get older these |
| used to make sense of what we are seeing. When | | | | delicate cells can get damaged due to general wear |
| vision is impaired, touch is the next best thing at helping | | | | and tear which leads to hearing loss later in life. Our |
| us to 'see.' | | | | lifestyle over the years can also contribute to hearing |
| Taste | | | | loss in later life. |
| Food glorious food, the millions of taste buds that sit on | | | | Loud noises may not have an immediate effect on |
| our tongue allow us to savour all the gastronomical | | | | your hearing however frequent exposure to loud |
| wonders of the world | | | | noises can damage the cochlea and bring on age |
| Smell | | | | related hearing loss sooner. Stress is also a factor that |
| Working in conjunction with our taste buds, tiny | | | | can cause damage to the cochlea. In order to function |
| receptors in the nostrils send messages to the brain | | | | well, the cochlea rely on a regular supply of oxygen |
| which dissect and classify different aromas | | | | which is fed to them by the blood. During times of |
| Hearing | | | | stress, blood vessels constrict meaning less oxygen is |
| The most basic form of communication relies on out | | | | carried throughout the body. |
| ability to hear well. Speech and hearing go hand in | | | | With so many areas that can go wrong, there is no |
| hand. | | | | surprise that hearing is one of the few sense that |
| Whilst there are conditions that can affect all of the | | | | diminish with age, making it imperative that you book a |
| above senses, there are only two which commonly | | | | hearing test whenever you detect any changes. |