Deafness

Deafness

Deafness is sufficient due to the natural aging process of the nerve, the receiving part and the hearing organ. The first symptoms of this type of hearing impairment can be diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 30. A typical symptom of advanced senile deafness is difficulty in understanding speech. General treatment is based on the administration of preparations that inhibit the aging process of the body and improve circulation in the inner ear.

Definition of senile deafness

Deafness is a disease associated with age. It involves gradual loss of hearing, which is usually the physiological process of aging of the body. A characteristic symptom of this ailment is a difficulty in understanding speech. Speaking of senile deafness, classification should be made on:

• conductive hearing loss - which may result from pathology of the external auditory canal or poor ossicular function, which transmits vibrations from the outer ear to the inner ear;
• hearing loss - characterized by disorders of the part of the ear responsible for receiving acoustic waves (the snail or the nerve part of the hearing organ);
• mixed hearing loss - combines the two types of hearing loss mentioned above in one hearing organ.

Deafness is usually associated with receiving disorders.

Causes of senile deafness

The general assumption is that deafness is sufficiently associated with progressive age and other factors that are difficult to clearly identify. However, there are some two similar opinions that speak about the causes of senile deafness.

1. Some people think that deafness is only connected with the aging process.

2. According to others, deafness appears not only due to age, but also due to noise and injuries and ototoxic agents.

However, among the factors affecting the severity of senile deafness and the speed of conduct, the following are mentioned:

• injuries,
• diabetes,
• prolonged exposure to noise,
• atherosclerosis,
• general aging,
• hypertension,
• listening to loud music (especially through headphones placed in your ears),
• obesity,
• genetic factors,
• use of aminoglycoside antibiotics, loop diuretics, macrolide and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - having ototoxic effects.

Symptoms of old age deafness

Deafness is not a discomfort that occurs suddenly and unannounced. It is a long-lasting process that can take place over several decades, which is why it is often overlooked. It is usually the case that people in the immediate environment of the patient notice hearing problems when smooth communication is disturbed. It happens that older people are nervous and raise their voice and have a difficult time receiving stimuli from the environment.

The problem is watching TV or listening to the radio. There is an unbearable noise and repeated requests for repetition. Ordinary calls over the phone become annoying and annoying. Even dealing with matters in the office or post office is a problem, the patient must repeatedly ask, ask for repetition of information, which is often shameful to him. It is worth mentioning that deafness is not only a physical disability, the greater part of seniors, due to hearing loss, resign from participation in social life, withdraw from the environment, avoid contact with other people. This situation causes depression to develop.

Deafness is sufficient - diagnosis

Diagnosis of senile deafness is based on a medical interview with the patient and conducting specialist examinations. The most popular test performed in this type of disorder is audiometry, which is carried out in a specially acoustically isolated room. The audiometric test may be:

• verbal - is to assess how the patient understands speech. For this purpose, he repeats the words he hears through the telephone receiver in his ear. Another way is to speak by a doctor standing at a certain distance from the patient, words in a low voice - the task of the subject is to repeat them loudly.
• threshold tonal - it is about defining the patient's hearing threshold.

Deafness is sufficient - treatment

Important! Deafness is an incurable disease. This is because the structures of the inner ear and the snail are unable to regenerate. Even surgery does not guarantee that the patient will regain the ability to hear correctly. The only way is the hearing aid. Small and invisible versions of hearing aids are currently available on the market, which are not noticeable by unauthorized persons. In addition, you can meet devices that support hearing, such as amplifiers of television and radio equipment, and even telephone handsets. Thanks to the amplifiers, the patient's comfort is significantly improved. The general treatment of senile deafness is based on taking preparations that inhibit the aging of the body and improve circulation in the inner ear.

Can you prevent senile deafness?

There are no known effective ways to prevent senile deafness, but you can somehow delay the onset of this condition and alleviate its severity. Avoid loud sounds (including listening to loud music), staying in prolonged noises or listening to music using the headphones. Also sports / physical activity has a positive effect on health because they prevent, among others, atherosclerosis and obesity.