Treatment of Presbycusis
What is the treatment of a person with presbycusis?
It has been postulated the use of drugs that slow the development of presbycusis, but there is no scientific evidence of the efficacy of any of them.
When the patient hears worse, the most effective treatment is the use of hearing aids. Ideally, a bilateral hearing aid fitting for binaural reception is always more similar to the normal situation the mono. If correct a defect in vision goggles and we get, obviously, we do for the two eyes, maybe we should do the same with hearing problems.
Interpersonal communication is not only verbal but gestural. Therefore, an effective measure to improve the communication of the person with presbycusis is to look at the gestures of the speaker, trying to read lips, watch your hands, etc.. Communication is easier if it is face to face and in a well lit.
Do all patients with presbycusis need a hearing aid?
The answer is clear and simple: no.
- There are many people with presbycusis do not notice hearing loss. In these patients, hearing loss is at from the 2,000 Hz is not here indicated a hearing aid.
- Other people have presbycusis with hearing loss, but not enough to limit their social life, family and career. These people also indicated the instrument.
- Some authors recommend the use of hearing aid when the hearing loss is 25-30 decibels above conversational frequencies (250-2000 Hz), but this is more theoretical than practical.