The nurse has noted that the physician has a diagnosis of presbycusis on the client’s chart. The nurse plans care knowing the condition is:
A. A sensorineural hearing loss that occurs with aging.
B. A conductive hearing loss that occurs with aging.
C. Tinnitus that occurs with aging.
D. Nystagmus that occurs with aging.
Correct Answer: A. A sensorineural hearing loss that occurs with aging.
Presbycusis is a type of hearing loss that occurs with aging. Presbycusis is a gradual sensorineural loss caused by nerve degeneration in the inner ear or auditory nerve. In literal terms, presbycusis means ‘old hearing’ or ‘elder hearing ‘. It is the most common cause of hearing loss worldwide and is estimated to affect approximately two-thirds of Americans aged 70 or older.
Option B: It is primarily due to age-related changes in hair cells, the stria vascularis, and afferent spiral ganglion neurons. Presbycusis is a type of sensorineural hearing loss with the involvement of the inner ear and/or neurologic pathways that form connections to the auditory cortex.
Option C: A common initial presentation is difficulty discriminating speech in specific situations, such as a room with significant background noise. Some patients complain of tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, however, this is not specific to presbycusis.
Option D: The hallmark of presbycusis is the impaired ability to understand high-frequency components of speech (voiceless consonants, such as p, k, f, s, and ch). There is no cure; however, hearing aids that amplify sounds can be used to mitigate symptoms.
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