Presbycusis

When people age their hearing is not as astute as in their younger years. This is because many people develop sensineural hearing loss. It is not entirely known how much of this is due to genetic facors and and how much is due to environmental factors. Also, males are more affected by this than females.

There seems to be a stiffening of the membrane in the hearing organ that is essential for hearing. Also, the hair cells that register the different frequencies and the nerve pathways age. Presbycusis affects the higher frequencies first (18 to 20 khz). In many males above age 55 to 60 the frequencies of 4 to 8 khz are affected, and this is when the person has problems with speech discrimination. They complain that they cannot understand conversations at noisy parties or against the background of any noisy environment. They feel that people around them "mumble". An assessment by an ENT specialist is warranted and often a conventional hearing aid will be prescribed with success.

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Disclaimer:

This outline is only a teaching aid to patients and should stimulate you to ask the right questions when seeing your doctor. However, the responsibility of treatment stays in the hands of your doctor and you.

References:

1. The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 84.

2. Noble: Textbook of Primary Care Medicine, 3rd ed.,2001, Mosby Inc.

3. The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 85.

4. Rakel: Conn's Current Therapy 2001, 53rd ed.,2001, W. B. Saunders Company

5. Goldman: Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 21st ed.,2000, W. B. Saunders Company

6. Mandell: Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 5th ed.,2000, Churchill Livingstone, Inc.

7. The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 265.

8. MF Williams: Otolaryngol Clin North Am; Oct1999; 32(5): 819-834.

9. The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 106.

Last Modified: Jan. 19, 2008