Hearing difficulties
Updated July 2006
Presbyacusis
Gradual loss of hearing that develops as a natural part of ageing (spelt presbycusis in American texts).
Many people over the age of 50 notice that they find it hard to hear quiet or high-pitched sounds and conversation is sometimes difficult to understand, particularly when there is background noise. Over a period of years, sounds of all pitches may become increasingly difficult to hear. Eventually, loss of sound clarity means that even loud speech is difficult to understand. This progressive decline in hearing is known as presbyacusis and is a common feature of the normal process of ageing. The National Study of Hearing estimated that there were almost nine million deaf and hard of hearing adults in the UK. The study also showed that the majority of hearing loss occurs in older people with 6.6 per cent of the UK population aged 16 to 60 experiencing a degree of deafness, compared with 46.9 per cent of people 61 to 80 years old and 93.2 per cent of people over 81 years old.[1]
Both ears are usually affected, although not always equally. The severity and progression of hearing loss vary from person to person. Severe hearing loss sometimes leads to feelings of isolation, loneliness, and depression.
It is important to recognise poor hearing in the elderly who may otherwise be erroneously diagnosed as being confused or depressed.
References:
[1] Davis A (1995) Hearing in adults. London: Whurr Publishers. As cited in Royal National Institute for Deaf People - Facts and figures on deafness and tinnitus
Tinnitus
Sounds heard in one or both ears in the absence of external noise.
People with tinnitus hear sounds that originate within the ear itself. These sounds may include ringing, buzzing, whistling, roaring, or hissing noises in the ears. They may vary in intensity and pulse in time with the heartbeat. For some people, the episodes of tinnitus are brief, but for others it is permanent condition. In many cases, tinnitus is associated with hearing loss, and the risk of developing tinnitus is increased by previous exposure to loud noises. The condition is more common in older people and affects approximately three in 10 people over the age of 60. Hearing tests can be performed to examine the ears and look for underlying causes, which may be successfully treated.
Most people experience tinnitus occasionally, and most experience it in silent soundproofed rooms. The National Study of Hearing found that 10 per cent of adults had prolonged spontaneous tinnitus, that is tinnitus usually lasting for longer than five minutes, 1 per cent experienced severe annoyance due to tinnitus, and in 0.5 per cent of adults tinnitus severely reduced the ability to lead a normal life.[1]
References:
[1] Davis A (1995) Hearing in adults. London: Whurr Publishers. As cited in Royal National Institute for Deaf People - Facts and figures on deafness and tinnitus
Further information:
- Action for Tinnitus Research
- British Deaf Association
- British Sign Language (BSL) animated alphabet
- British Sign Language (BSL)
- British Tinnitus Association
- Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People (CACDP)
- Deaf Broadcasting Council
- Deafblind UK
- Hearing Concern
- Irish Deaf Society
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopaedia - Ear noises and buzzing
- NHS Direct Online Health Encyclopaedia – Tinnitus
- Royal Association for Deaf People
- Royal National Institute for Deaf People
- Scottish Council on Deafness
- Sense is UK’s leading Deafblind charity
- World Federation of the Deaf
- World Health Organisation - Deafness