2. What is hearing loss?
One of most common conditions of older adults
(30% up to 74 years, 47% 75+ years)
Can be mild (only missing high pitched sounds) to
total loss of hearing
Hereditary or disease
Two categories:
Sensorineural (damage to inner ear, permanent)
Conductive (sound waves can’t reach inner ear,
might be treatable)
http://nihseniorhealth.gov/hearingloss/hearinglossde
fined/01.html
4. Visual
guide:
Hearing
loss
http://e-infopages.com/2012/turn-down-the-volume-to-avoid-
hearing-loss/
5. Presbycusis
• Comes on gradually as we age
• Can occur because of changes in ear
• Causes: aging, loud noise, heredity, head
injury, infection, illness, drugs, circulation
• May make it hard to tolerate loud sounds
or hear what others are saying
6. Tinnitus
• Common symptom of hearing loss
• Characterized by ringing, hissing or
roaring in ears
• Can be caused by exposure to loud
noise or medicines
• Symptom, not a disease
• Can also be sign of other important
health problems like allergies & problems
in heart & blood vessels
7. Causes & prevention
Aging not only cause
Also ear infection, medicines such as
antibiotics or even aspirin
Hereditary
Loud noise (avoid loud noise from
lawnmowers, snowblowers, motorcycles,
firecrackers and loud music)
Remove excess ear wax
Avoid illness which can cause infection
8. Should I test my hearing?
Problem hearing on the phone?
Trouble hearing when there is
background noise?
Hard to talk with more than 2 at a
time?
Strain to understand?
Misunderstand speech?
Often ask to repeat?
Trouble understanding women
and children speech?
Do you listen to TV too high?
Hear ringing, roaring, hissing?
Are some sounds too loud?
9. Treatment & research
Hearing aids: 25 – 29% 70 years and older wear
them
Many shapes, sizes
Analog or digital
Analog may be adjusted with computer for
different environments
Digital use computer chip and most flexible. Also
most expensive
Other options: TV listening systems, hearing aids
that plug into TVs, stereos, microphones
Telecoil small magnetic coil that allows users to
receive sound through hearing aid rather than
microphone. Can also work with sound systems in
large gatherings like churches, schools, airports
10. Small electronic device
Other treatments: placed under skin &
behind ear
Cochlear Implants Picks up sounds, changes
to electrical signals,
sends to non-working
part of inner ear and
brain.
Doesn’t restore or create
normal hearing, but
helps people become
aware of surroundings &
understand speech
Does require training on
how to interpret sounds
11. How cochlear implants work:
External microphone &
speech processor
Worn behind ear
Transmitter sends
radiofrequency signals
to surgically implanted
electronic chip
(receiver – stimulator)
which stimulates
auditory nerve with
electrodes threaded
through cochlea
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/medical/IM0
3853
