Weinstein B E
Lehman College CUNY.
Geriatrics. 1994 Aug;49(8):40-5; quiz 46-7.
Hearing loss is prevalent among older adults and is associated with depression, cognitive decline, reduction in functional status, and emotional and social handicaps. Screening by physicians is important, because older adults tend to underestimate the degree of their hearing impairment. The most important predictor of hearing aid candidacy is not the severity of hearing loss but rather the patient's motivation and perception of the handicapping effects of his/her hearing impairment. A variety of hearing aid styles is available. In-the-ear units and in-the-canal hearing aids are the most popular. New digitally programmable aids are often acoustically superior, but they cost more and require considerable training. Assistive listening devices may be used with or without a hearing aid to amplify sound, television, or telephone conversations.
听力损失在老年人中很普遍，并且与抑郁症、认知能力下降、功能状态减退以及情感和社交障碍有关。医生进行筛查很重要，因为老年人往往会低估自己听力受损的程度。助听器适用资格的最重要预测因素不是听力损失的严重程度，而是患者的积极性以及对其听力障碍造成的不利影响的认知。有多种助听器款式可供选择。耳内式助听器和耳道式助听器最受欢迎。新型数字可编程助听器在声学方面通常更具优势，但价格更高，且需要大量培训。辅助听力设备可与助听器配合使用，也可单独使用，用于放大声音、电视或电话交谈的声音。
