More than a third of adults older than 50 years—and 80% of those 80 years and older—have hearing loss. However, this impairment, which often contributes to emotional isolation and social withdrawal, is frequently undetected. Unlike vision prerequisites for driving, there is no mandate for widespread hearing testing, and many older adults avoid using hearing aids. The USPSTF recommends screening adults 50 years of age and older. Hearing loss can be accurately detected by a number of measures: a single-item screening test, namely asking patients if they have difficulty hearing; multi-item questionnaires such as the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly—Screening Version; handheld audiometers; the clinical "whisper test"; or the finger rub test.
Aging is the most important risk factor for hearing loss and presbycusis is the most common age-related cause. In presbycusis, degenerating hair cells in the ear lead to gradually progressive hearing loss, particularly for high-frequency sounds. Other risk factors include congenital or familial hearing loss, syphilis, rubella, meningitis, diabetes, recurring inner ear infections, exposure to ototoxic agents, frequent use of headphones, and exposure to hazardous noise levels at work, leisure, or on the battlefield. Hearing aids can improve hearing and quality of life, but are more likely to be adopted by those who report hearing loss than those diagnosed clinically. Consequently, in 2012, the USPSTF concluded that the evidence for screening adults ≥age 50 years is insufficient, giving only a grade I recommendation.
责任编辑：admin
上一篇：没有了
下一篇：医学文章阅读——The Mouth, Throat, and Neck
微信公众号搜索“译员”关注我们，每天为您推送翻译理论和技巧，外语学习及翻译招聘信息。