TY - JOUR
T1 - A Review of Adult-Onset Hearing Loss
T2 - a Primer for Neurologists
AU - Pittman, Corinne A.
AU - Ward, Bryan K.
AU - Nieman, Carrie L.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported in part by a National Institute on Aging grant K23AG059900 (CLN) and a National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Diversity Supplement R33 DC015062-05S (CAP).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
PY - 2021/7
Y1 - 2021/7
N2 - Purpose of the Review: The goal of this review is to highlight current approaches to diagnosis and treatment for adult-onset hearing loss in patients likely to present to a neurologist’s office. The review will discuss primary and secondary causes of acute and chronic hearing loss, and will discuss common situations that can be managed by a neurologist as well as situations that require immediate care and referral for further management by an otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon. Recent Findings: Hearing screening assessments using mobile applications and tablet devices are now available and can be integrated into many clinical practice settings, including in the evaluation of hearing concerns related to various neurological pathologies. For patients presenting with a sudden worsening in hearing, bedside evaluation, including objective measures of hearing, can inform neurologists about diagnosis and subsequent management. For patients who present with gradual worsening in hearing, particularly those related to neurologic disorders, hearing care can be an important adjunct to ongoing neurologic care. More commonly encountered, age-related hearing loss is highly prevalent among older adults and may affect overall neurological assessment, including neurocognitive testing, as well as patient-provider communication, patient satisfaction, and care outcomes. Hearing loss is increasingly recognized as a potentially modifiable risk factor for dementia. Neurologists can support the hearing health of their patients through the routine use of communication strategies and by integrating simple, low-cost technology with their current clinical practices. Summary: Both acute and chronic hearing loss can be a symptom of many conditions managed by neurologists. Few conditions are emergent, requiring immediate referral to and treatment by an otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon. Despite the range of hearing interventions available, including hearing aids, over-the-counter devices, and aural rehabilitation, hearing loss is a common and under-treated chronic health condition. By promptly addressing a patient’s hearing concerns, neurologists can improve patients’ awareness of the deficit and support the overall importance of maintaining sensory health across the life course.
AB - Purpose of the Review: The goal of this review is to highlight current approaches to diagnosis and treatment for adult-onset hearing loss in patients likely to present to a neurologist’s office. The review will discuss primary and secondary causes of acute and chronic hearing loss, and will discuss common situations that can be managed by a neurologist as well as situations that require immediate care and referral for further management by an otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon. Recent Findings: Hearing screening assessments using mobile applications and tablet devices are now available and can be integrated into many clinical practice settings, including in the evaluation of hearing concerns related to various neurological pathologies. For patients presenting with a sudden worsening in hearing, bedside evaluation, including objective measures of hearing, can inform neurologists about diagnosis and subsequent management. For patients who present with gradual worsening in hearing, particularly those related to neurologic disorders, hearing care can be an important adjunct to ongoing neurologic care. More commonly encountered, age-related hearing loss is highly prevalent among older adults and may affect overall neurological assessment, including neurocognitive testing, as well as patient-provider communication, patient satisfaction, and care outcomes. Hearing loss is increasingly recognized as a potentially modifiable risk factor for dementia. Neurologists can support the hearing health of their patients through the routine use of communication strategies and by integrating simple, low-cost technology with their current clinical practices. Summary: Both acute and chronic hearing loss can be a symptom of many conditions managed by neurologists. Few conditions are emergent, requiring immediate referral to and treatment by an otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon. Despite the range of hearing interventions available, including hearing aids, over-the-counter devices, and aural rehabilitation, hearing loss is a common and under-treated chronic health condition. By promptly addressing a patient’s hearing concerns, neurologists can improve patients’ awareness of the deficit and support the overall importance of maintaining sensory health across the life course.
KW - Age-related hearing loss
KW - Aural rehabilitation
KW - Cochlear implant
KW - Hearing aids
KW - Hearing loss
KW - Mobile hearing screening
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U2 - 10.1007/s11940-021-00674-4
DO - 10.1007/s11940-021-00674-4
M3 - Review article
C2 - 34483646
AN - SCOPUS:85106319789
SN - 1092-8480
VL - 23
JO - Current Treatment Options in Neurology
JF - Current Treatment Options in Neurology
IS - 7
M1 - 20
ER -