Update on hearing impairment in later life

Hearing loss is very common in older people and causes a significant threat to quality of life because it directly impacts on daily functioning from basic autonomy to the enjoyment of cultural activities [1, 2]. In geriatric medicine, rehabilitation, and the public health, however, sensory losses are still considered an “age marker” rather than a focused target for multi-professional treatment, rehabilitation, and psychosocial intervention. This might be because various specialized medical as well as non-medical professionals deal with this topic. On the other hand, intensive interdisciplinary cooperation does not always work as one might expect in a high-quality and effective health system. The current situation in long-term care institutions may be only the tip of the iceberg showing what goes wrong. Unfortunately, optimal treatment and rehabilitation are considered a “must have” but not a “have” in standard clinical practice in the share of older adults. …