Age-related Hearing Loss and Its Correlation with Depression

Abstract

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL), commonly referred to as presbycusis, ranks as the third most prevalent health issue among older individuals, following heart disease and arthritis. This is a progressive, symmetrical, age-related sensorineural hearing impairment that primarily affects higher frequencies. This review was aimed to describe age related hearing loss and depression in elder people. Individuals who suffer from tinnitus and experience difficulty discerning speech in noisy environments are at a higher risk of developing paradoxical hypersensitivity to loud sounds. Consequently, individuals with age-related hearing loss (ARHL) experience increased challenges in perceiving consonant sounds inside words. These sounds play a crucial role in conveying the main message of a word, aiding in syllable separation, and indicating word boundaries. Healthcare providers must prioritize the screening and detection of HL (hearing loss) and depression. Initially, primary care providers may be most adept at identifying both hearing loss (HL) and depression.