The Effect of Hearing Impairment on Daily Living Activities among Elderly

Abstract

Hearing impairment in the elderly or presbycusis or age related hearing loss is the most common cause of adult hearing deficiency; it is considered the most prevalent sensory, usually progressive and bilateral impairment in the elderly, affecting individuals aged. The incidence of hearing loss increases with age and this because of contributing factors from age, ototoxicity, noise exposure and chronic conditions e.g. (diabetes and heart diseases). Presbycusis is the result of auditory deficiency that affects on high frequencies and a hard time distinguishing high-pitched sounds from one another such as "s" or "th" (Gloria et al., 2011). Hearing impairment was matched with senility as a major cause of functional disability. The association between hearing impairment and activity limitations are assessed by the activities of daily living (ADL) scale. Hearing impairment compromise communication that is an important aspect of everyday life especially for elderly also can impair the exchange of information and lead to slurred speech and therefore reduces participation in engagement of daily living activities and cause functional disabilities and activity limitation. (Brennan,et .al. 2009).