Presbycusis
Presbycusis
Presbycusis
What is presbycusis?
Presbycusis is the loss of hearing that gradually occurs in most individuals as they grow older. 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. The loss associated with presbycusis is usually greater for high-pitched sounds. For example, it may be difficult for someone to hear the nearby chirping of a bird or the ringing of a telephone. However, the same person may be able to hear clearly the low-pitched sound of a truck rumbling down the street. There are many causes of presbycusis. Most commonly it arises from changes in the inner ear of a person as he or she ages, but presbycusis can also result from changes in the middle ear or from complex changes along the nerve pathways leading to the brain. 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.
Because the process of loss is gradual, people who have presbycusis may not realize that their hearing is diminishing.
Communication tips
If you have a hearing loss caused by presbycusis or know someone who does, share these tips with family members, friends, and colleagues. 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. This allows a person with a hearing impairment to 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 dont 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.
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American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery One Prince Street Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 5191589 (Voice) (703) 5191585 (TTY) www.entnet.org (Internet)
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association 10801 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852 (301) 8975700 (Voice/TTY) (800) 6388255 (Toll free) (301) 5710457 (FAX) www.asha.org (Internet)