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Age-related hearing loss

Alternative Names:

Hearing loss - age related; Presbycusis

Treatment:

There is no known cure for age-related hearing loss. Treatment is focused on functional improvement. Hearing aids, which provide amplification, may help. Developing skills such as lip reading and using visual cues may aid communication, but these may be difficult skills for older people to learn.

Expectations (prognosis):

Age-related hearing loss is progressive, which means it slowly gets worse. The disorder is not dangerous, but it leads to increasing difficulty with communication.

Complications:

Deafness is a complication. Deafness-related complications include social isolation and the inability to hear fire alarms.

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if hearing loss occurs or worsens.

Ear anatomy

Review Date: 11/6/2006
Reviewed By: Sandra W. Cohen, M.D. Private Practice specializing in geriatrics, Brooklyn, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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