Presbycusis Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
Presbycusis is a decrease in the ability to hear that occurs as a result of the aging process. Although it is a normal process that occurs, in fact not everyone experiences this disorder.
About half of the elderly aged over 75 years are known to have this disorder. Those who have the potential to experience presbycusis, especially those who have the following risk factors:
- Low socio-economic group
- Lots of exposure to noisy environments
- Taking drugs that are ototoxic or have the potential to damage the ear – such as aminoglycosides, heavy metal compounds and several types of chemotherapy drugs
- Have a smoking habit
- Have a history of high blood pressure
- Have diabetes
- Have vascular disease
- Have impaired immunity
Presbycusis is not dangerous but can reduce the quality of life of sufferers. Communication difficulties that occur have the potential to make sufferers experience depression and not enthusiasm in living old age.
Symptoms
Because it occurs slowly, a person with presbycusis is generally not aware that he has this disorder. This disease should be wary of in those who experience:
- Difficulty deciphering words. Sufferers can hear, but cannot understand the meaning of the word
- Speak loudly
- Complains of ringing in the ears or tinnitus and difficulty hearing high pitches
Unfortunately, not everyone with these complaints realizes they need treatment. Hearing loss with these various symptoms often makes sufferers feel inferior, insecure and even hopeless and depressed. Even though with proper treatment, such as using hearing aids, a person with presbycusis can also live a normal life and can have optimal hearing again.
Reason
Many things can cause presbycusis. But the most common cause is due to aging. However, presbycusis can also occur due to structural changes in the middle ear or nerve disorders in the transmission of sound to the brain.
Diagnosis
To determine the diagnosis of presbycusis, a series of detailed medical interviews and a physical examination and supporting examinations are required. The results of the physical examination of the ears of patients with presbycusis are generally normal, there are no abnormalities in the tympanic membrane.
Disorders were found when additional examinations were carried out in the form of:
- Whisper test
Whisper test is done by whispering a few simple words at arm’s length behind the patient. - Keynote audiometry
Patients with presbycusis will have difficulty identifying keystones in this examination.
Other tests such as a CT scan or MRI are generally not needed to determine the diagnosis of presbycusis. This examination is only done if there is suspicion of another disease, such as a tumor.
Treatment
Treatment of patients with presbycusis can vary. This depends on the severity of the complaint and the individual condition of the patient. The treatment given can be in the form of:
- Provision of electronic hearing aids whose function is to increase the sound volume
- Cochlear implants especially if the presbycusis is quite severe
- Installation of hearing aids in the spine of the ear
- Use of applications on your phone or tablet that are designed to help you communicate with others
- Lip reading or speech reading with a special method that allows a patient to communicate by looking at the movement of the other person’s lips
Prevention
To reduce the risk of developing presbycusis in the future, a person should:
- Avoid exposure to sound that is too loud
- Do not insert anything into the ear outside of the doctor’s instructions
- Seek immediate treatment if you have an ear infection
- Changing a healthy lifestyle to prevent hypertension and diabetes
- Avoid smoking habits