Elderly and Hearing Loss

What is a hearing loss in the elderly?

Hearing loss in the elderly is a common problem caused by noise, age, disease and heredity. Hearing involves the ability of the ear to detect sounds and the brain's ability to interpret sounds. Factors that determine how much hearing loss occurs depends on:

• The level of hearing loss
• Patterns of hearing loss at different frequencies (pitches)
• Is one or both ears problematic
• Parts of the auditory system that do not work normally - such as the middle ear, inner ear, nerve pathways, or brain
• the ability to recognize speech sounds
• Historical exposure to loud noises and environmental or drug-related poisons that are harmful to hearing
• Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions in the elderly. There is a strong relationship between age and hearing loss while men are more likely to experience hearing loss than women.
• Elderly with hearing loss may find it difficult to have conversations with friends and family. They may also have difficulty understanding doctor's advice, responding to warnings, and hearing doorbells and alarms.

Types of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss comes in various forms. Someone might get it from illness, trauma, certain medications, or long-term exposure to loud sounds.
Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve. This type of hearing loss is usually permanent. Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound waves cannot reach the inner ear. The reason might be ear wax, fluid, or punctured ear drum. medical treatment or surgery can usually restore conductive hearing loss.

What is Presbycusis?

One form of hearing loss, Presbycusis, comes gradually to the elderly. Presbycusis can occur due to changes in the inner ear, auditory nerve, middle ear, or outer ear. Some of the causes of aging, loud noise, heredity, head injuries, infections, diseases, certain prescription drugs, and circulation problems such as high blood pressure.
Presbycusis usually affects the age of entering the elderly usually starting from the age of 50 years, many of them tend to lose some hearing every year. Presbycusis can make it difficult for someone to tolerate loud sounds or hear what others are saying.

Tinnitus: A Common Symptom in the Elderly

Tinnitus, also common in older people, is like ringing, roaring, clicking, hissing, or buzzing in the ears. This can come and go. May be heard in one or both ears and become hard or soft.
Tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease. Tinnitus can be combined with other types of hearing loss and can also be a side effect of medication. Something as simple as a piece of ear wax covering the ear canal can cause tinnitus, but it can also be the result of a number of health conditions.
If you think you have tinnitus according to the doctor's diagnosis, you might be referred to an otolaryngologist - a surgeon who specializes in ear, nose, and throat disease - (commonly called an ear, nose, and throat doctor, or ENT). The ENT will physically examine the head, neck, ears and test the hearing to determine the right treatment.

Hearing Loss Can Cause Other Problems

Some people may not want to admit they have difficulty hearing. Elderly people who cannot hear well can become depressed or may withdraw from others to avoid feeling frustrated or embarrassed at not understanding what is being said. Sometimes the elderly become confused, unresponsive, or uncooperative just because they don't listen well.
Neglected or untreated hearing problems can get worse. If you have hearing problems, you should get help. Meet your doctor, hearing aids, special training, certain medicines, and surgery are some of the options that can help people with hearing problems.