Presbycusis
What is presbycusis?
Presbycusis is the gradual loss of hearing that occurs as people
age. It is a common disorder associated with aging. Estimates
indicate that 30 percent of people 65 and over, and 50 percent
of people 75 and older have some degree of hearing loss.
Presbycusis usually occurs gradually, with some people not immediately
aware of the change.
What causes presbycusis?
There may be many causes for presbycusis, but it most commonly
occurs because of age-related changes in the following locations:
• within the inner ear
• within the middle ear
• along the nerve pathways to the brain
Contributors to presbycusis include:
• cumulative effects of environmental noises
• loss of hair cells (sensory receptors in
inner ear)
• hereditary factors
• aging
• health
• side effects of some medications
What are the symptoms of presbycusis?
The following are the most common symptoms for presbycusis,
however, individuals may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms
may include:
• speech of others sounds mumbled or slurred
• high-pitched sounds, such as "s"
or "th" are hard to distinguish
• conversations are difficult to understand,
particularly when there is background noise
• men's voices are easier to hear than women's
• some sounds seem overly loud and annoying
• tinnitus may occur in one or both ears
The symptoms of presbycusis may resemble other conditions or
medical problems. Consult a physician for a diagnosis.
Treatment for presbycusis:
Specific treatment will be determined by the physician(s) based
on:
• patient's age, overall health, and medical
history
• extent of the disease
• expectations for the course of the disease
• patient's tolerance for specific medications,
procedures, or therapies
• patient's opinion or preference
Treatment options for presbycusis may include the following:
• avoiding loud noises and reducing noise
exposure
• wearing ear plugs or special fluid-filled
ear muffs to prevent further damage to hearing
• hearing aid(s)
• assistive devices such as telephone amplifiers
• training in speechreading - using visual
cues to determine what is being said
