Ana María Arango - Audiologist

Germán Sandoval, M.D., Otorhinolaryngologist Surgeon

Bucaramanga, Colombia

Hearing losses usually start appearing when we are 40 years old. It is one of the most likely chronic conditions in old people. This problem affects, at different intensities, almost half of people older than 65, and 90% of people older than 80. 

Normal audition is the first sense to be damaged by the aging process; as it is the first sense to be in action, before the 5^th month of gestation. Thanks to this sense, babies start integrating into their brain language, knowledge, and all perceptions of their environment. At the beginning, acoustic memories of all kinds are the first data to be recorded at our brain. 

Ears are dynamic for a long time in our life; but at some point, they suddenly stop making efforts to exercise muscles and small bones; their functions start deteriorating, including a good hearing. 

Due to the fact that hearing losses are progressive but gradual or slow in many cases, diagnosis is frequently late. Audition is very important for older people quality of life. It is one of our main daily tools, essential for communication with the environment. 

Without good hearing capabilities, we usually start retreating from our normal activities, including our social life. 

   PRESBYCUSIS SIGNALS

Its evolution is always slow but progressive. Presbyacusis means hearing loss due to the aging process. Before 60 years of age, symptoms and clinical signals do not occur. 

Many very old people suffer from clear, noticeable deafness symptoms.

There are three stages: The first one doesn’t show clinical signals and goes unnoticed, the second one starts producing some effects on patient’s social life, the third one makes patients retreat from their environment. 

There are some factors that speed presbycusis: Metabolism disorders, cardiovascular problems, intoxications, ototoxicity due to medications, exposure to strong noise, etc… 

   BAD LISTENERS

“Presbycusis doesn’t make people deaf, but bad listeners.”

They hear but don’t understand. This condition usually gets worse, and later on, speech becomes affected. Also, there will be difficulties to find the right words, when they find them, they can’t remember the general idea. 

One or two audiphones provide excellent results. After a good auditory re-education most patients completely recover a complete hearing and understanding. Patients feel totally renewed after restoring good ear functions. Even their taste for life improves. Residual audition also improves. 

A good information transmission requires constant exercise of ears and brain. This way people are always vigilant, paying attention to environmental stimulus, understanding and remembering what is said around them. 

These facts make a visit to the doctor (otorhinolaryngologist or audiologist) very important.

They must evaluate our hearing capability, performing some tests to measure our actual hearing loss or deafness degree. Causes must be established, there is a wide range of causes: From a simple ear wax clog to major sensorial alterations, including presbycusis, sound conduction or central nervous system problems.  

In general terms, it is well known that hearing losses of all kinds lead to self-esteem problems, problems regarding our communication, social life, self-sufficiency, etc… 

New intelligent digital audiphones bring an authentic relief. Most hearing or deafness problems and their consequences can be successfully treated. 

Early detection and treatment of deafness always provide a solution.

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