ENT - Presbycusis Flashcards
Type of hearing loss in presbycusis
Presentation of presbycusis
Sensorineural hearing loss
Gradual onset
Tends to affect high-pitched sounds first - female voices may be harder to understand
Tinnitus may be present
Mechanism of the hearing loss in presbycusis
There are several different mechanisms, including loss of the hair cells in the cochlea, loss of neurones in the cochlea, atrophy of the stria vascularis and reduced endolymphatic potential.
Risk factors for presbycusis
Age Male gender Family history Loud noise exposure Diabetes Hypertension Ototoxic medications Smoking
Presbycusis diagnosis is made with
Audiometry - this will show sensorineural problem with near-normal hearing at lower frequencies and worsening hearing loss at higher frequencies
Management of presbycusis
Optimising environment - reducing ambient noise during conversations
Hearing aids
Cochlear implants - where hearing aids arent sufficient