Changes in Hearing
Hearing changes that are common as we age include a decrease in sensitivity to high frequency tones and decreased discrimination of similar pitches. These changes are usually the result of normal changes to the bones and cochlear hair cells of the inner ear.
Significant hearing loss, while relatively common in the elderly population is not a normal part of the aging process. Approximately 30% of all elderly persons have some hearing impairment. Such loss is usually the result of:
- damage to the hearing organ
- the peripheral nervous system
- damage to the central nervous system
Depending upon the specific cause and location of the problem, different types of hearing loss may result:
- high tone loss
- flat hearing loss
- difficulty understanding or distinguishing words
Because most hearing changes are not responsive to medical or surgical intervention, hearing aids and auditory rehabilitation are usually suggested, although not all types of hearing loss are correctable.
Since hearing is essential for social interaction and safety, untreated hearing loss is perhaps the most socially disabling of all sensory impairments. It is an invisible disability that is often covered up or denied by a person who may then be mislabeled as senile, or uncooperative.
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