Comments on “recent research on hearing impairment in later life: clinical and psychosocial implications”

Excerpt

Hearing loss increases with age and most older adults experience hearing problems [ 13]. Much has been learned about phenotypes of auditory aging attributed to various types of damage to the auditory system and characterized by changes in detection thresholds and/or in the perceptual processing of suprathreshold sounds [ 3, 4]. Notably, research is shifting from a modality-specific focus to a broader view of how auditory aging interacts with other domains of aging. Hearing is identified as one of six key intrinsic capacities (with vision, mobility, cognition, mental health, nutrition) in the World Health Organization [ 11] guidance on Integrated Care for Older Adults. In the decade of healthy aging [ 15] it is imperative for hearing researchers/clinicians to develop interdisciplinary/professional collaborations to implement integrated person-centered care by “creating the environments and opportunities that enable people to be and do what they value throughout their lives” [ 12]. These approaches will rely on exchanging knowledge across fields as has been undertaken in the current set of papers. These papers provide insights into the implications of connections between hearing loss and other aspects of aging, and into the limitations and potentials of current and future treatments for hearing loss. …