Presbycusis

<languages /><translate> Presbycusis is the aging related loss of hearing that occurs naturally over the years in most individuals.

In the ear hearing aid

Incidence

• Hearing loss is a common disorder associated with aging.
• About 30-35 percent of adults age 65 and older have a hearing loss.
• It is estimated that 40-50 percent of people 75 and older have a hearing loss.

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Sounds affected

• The loss associated with presbycusis is usually greater for high-pitched sounds such as chirping of a bird or the ringing of a telephone as opposed to a truck rumbling down the street.

Causes

• There are many causes of presbycusis, although most commonly, it is from changes in the inner ear of a person as he or she ages.
• Presbycusis can also result from changes in the middle ear or from complex changes along the nerve pathways leading to the brain.
• The cumulative effects of repeated exposure to daily traffic sounds or construction work, noisy offices, equipment that produces noise, and loud music can cause sensorineural hearing loss.
• Sensorineural hearing loss is most often due to a loss of hair cells (sensory receptors in the inner ear).
• This can occur as a result of hereditary factors as well as aging, various health conditions, and side effects of some medicines (aspirin and certain antibiotics).
• Presbycusis may be caused by changes in the blood supply to the ear because of heart disease, high blood pressure, vascular (pertaining to blood vessels) conditions caused by diabetes, or other circulatory problems.

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Unilateral or bilateral?

• Presbycusis most often occurs in both ears, affecting them equally.
• Because the process of loss is gradual, people who have presbycusis may not realize that their hearing is diminishing.

Signs and symptoms

• Sounds often seem less clear and lower in volume leading to difficulty hearing and understanding speech.
• The speech of others seems mumbled or slurred.
• High-pitched sounds such as “s” and “th” are difficult to hear and tell apart.
• Conversations are difficult to understand, especially when there is background noise.
• A man’s voice is easier to hear than the higher pitches of a woman’s voice.
• Certain sounds seem annoying or overly loud.
• Tinnitus such as a ringing, roaring, or hissing sound in one or both ears may also occur.

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Severity

The loss may be mild, moderate, or severe.

Prevention

• Much of the hearing loss caused by noise exposure can be prevented.
• Awareness of potential sources of damaging noises, such as firearms, snowmobiles, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, woodworking machinery and loud appliances is important.
• Ear plugs or special fluid-filled ear muffs can give protection and should be worn to help avoid the possibility of damage to hearing. Excessively loud everyday noises, both at home and at work, can pose a risk to a person’s hearing. Avoiding loud noises and reducing the amount of time one is exposed to everyday noises may be helpful.

Treatment

• Hearing aids may be recommended for some individuals.
• Assistive listening devices can provide further improvement in hearing ability in certain situations.
• One example of such a device is the built-in telephone amplifier.
• Another example is FM systems that make sounds clearer, with or without a hearing aid, by delivering sound waves like a radio.
• Training in speechreading (using visual cues to determine what is being spoken) can help those with presbycusis to understand better what is being said in conversations or presentations.

World-hearing-day-2020

Hearing aids

• Consultation with specially trained professionals who work as a team is important for evaluation of a hearing loss and selection of appropriate management.
• An otolaryngologist or ear, nose and throat specialist should evaluate the individual with a hearing problem to make the diagnosis and exclude related systemic disorders that may contribute to the problem.
• An audiologist is a professional who measures the hearing and identifies the type of hearing loss.
• The audiologist conducts a complete hearing evaluation and determines if a hearing aid may be useful.
• The individual is counseled about how a hearing aid may improve listening situations.
• Then the audiologist conducts tests to find an appropriate aid, selecting one that maximizes a person’s hearing and understanding of speech.
• Most older adults with hearing loss can benefit from using a hearing aid, although the degree of benefit may vary according to the type and amount of hearing loss.

Anatomy of the human ear

Tips for families, friends and care givers

• Face the person who has a hearing loss so that he or she can see your face when you speak.
• Be sure that lighting is in front of you when you speak so the affected person can observe facial expressions, gestures, and lip and body movements that provide communication clues.
• During conversations, turn off the radio or television.
• Avoid speaking while chewing food or covering your mouth with your hands.
• Speak slightly louder than normal, but don’t shout. Shouting may distort your speech.
• Speak at your normal rate, and do not exaggerate sounds.
• Clue the person with the hearing loss about the topic of the conversation whenever possible.
• Rephrase your statement into shorter, simpler sentences if it appears you are not being understood.
• In restaurants and social gatherings, choose seats or conversation areas away from crowded or noisy areas.

World hearing day

• March 3rd of every year is celebrated as world hearing day

Presbycusis Resources
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