Hearing Loss in Adults in Older Age Groups

There has been a steady increase in the prevalence of hearing loss among people in many countries around the world. One of the main reasons for this negative trend is the growing life expectancy and increasing proportion of the elderly people, which leads to an increase in the number of people with age-related changes in the auditory system (presbycusis). Aging is accompanied primarily by damage to the structures of the inner ear, but it can also affect the central parts of the auditory analyzer, causing disorders at all levels of the auditory neural pathway. Presbycusis is accompanied by impaired hearing and speech intelligibility. Along with speech hearing, spatial hearing is also impaired. As in other countries of the world, in Russia the prevalence of age-related hearing loss is increasing year by year. The data on the prevalence of hearing impairment in the Russian Federation vary due to the lack of uniform approaches to the registration of individuals with impaired hearing. It is necessary to create an audiological register to provide informational support for a comprehensive medical and social rehabilitation of audiological patients. Since hearing loss has a significant negative impact on patients’ quality of life, knowledge of the prevalence of hearing disorders among the population will make it possible to plan properly the demand for technical means of hearing and speech rehabilitation at the state level and to promote social rehabilitation and active longevity of citizens of older age groups.