Presbyacusis, derived from the Greek words 'elder' and 'hear', refers to the condition responsible for the majority of cases of deafness or hearing loss in people over the age of 60. It is characterised by a gradual reduction in hearing which usually develops over several years, characterised by, initially, a reduction in the ability to hear the higher most frequencies before progressing to a more general hearing impairment. As a consequence of this in its early stages an affected person will tend to notice difficulty deciphering speech in the presence of background noise, for example in a busy pub or restaurant whilst he/she may have no significant difficulty conversing on a one-to-one basis. As the problem comes on gradually, it is not unusual for an affected person to be unaware of it, particularly in the early stages, whereas their husband or wife may complain that the television is on too loud or that they are having to repeat themselves.
Presbyacusis is widely regarded as an age related degeneration of the cochlea or inner ear: it may thus be considered a normal part of the ageing process as most elderly people will be affected to a greater or less degree. Thankfully most people do not go completely deaf with this condition.
Being part of the ageing process, there are no specific measures that can be taken to prevent the development of presbyacusis. However, it is well recognised that exposure to loud noises, particularly over a prolonged period, can permanently damage the inner ear and exacerbate any age related hearing loss. Health and Safety legislation has reduced the impact of excess noise in the workplace and, where necessary, the wearing of ear protection is now obligatory.
Many people who have noticed a reduction in their hearing present to their GP or practice nurse requesting that their ears be syringed to remove the wax which they believe is responsible for their deafness. Although wax, when blocking the ear canal completely, can interfere with hearing it is relatively uncommon for this to be the full explanation and patients often leave the surgery reminded once again of their body's senescence!
Mild cases of presbyacusis are often best managed with reassurance that symptoms do not represent any underlying sinister disease and the advice to ask people to speak more clearly. Severer cases usually benefit from a hearing aid which can be supplied via your GP referring you to the hospital Ear, Nose and Throat Department.
Technology is improving all the time and it may soon be routinely possible to 'tune' hearing aids to amplify those frequencies which have been most affected by the degenerative process. This would avoid the 'blanket' amplification of sound which can, in some people, merely result in an increased ability to hear - but without any improvement in the ability to discriminate speech and thus improve the clarity of what is heard. Certainly modern hearing aids are much less obtrusive than their predecessors from a generation ago, they can now be worn quite discretely. Hearing aids can also be bought privately from several companies which usually offer the incentive of a free hearing test to elderly people. It is not unusual for these devices to cost several hundreds of pounds and in the first instance it may be sensible to seek your doctor's advice. If appropriate a NHS hearing aid can be tried which should be just as effective as those sold privately.
Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice or substituted for professional advice. Always consult your doctor with your questions and concerns.
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