Rehabilitation in Diseases of the Sense Organs in Older Adults: Hearing and Balance

Abstract

Hearing loss in older adults is associated with both cognitive impairment and aging. Consequently, the auditory rehabilitation of the elderly should not be limited to restore hearing function and should take into careful consideration the effects, causes, and consequences of the sensorial deprivation on central processes in terms of speech perception and quality of life. Auditory rehabilitation can reduce the cognitive “load” (the neural activity needed to achieve a task, in particular understanding/recognizing the spoken word), social isolation, anxiety, and depression. Dizziness represents largely a problem in the elderly, being the most common reason patients over the age of 75 years seek medical attention. Different causes for such sensations are reported. Cardiovascular, neurological, or locomotor disease, deterioration in sensory organs, vestibular dysfunction, and adverse drug effects are the most common. A multifactorial approach could be the best solution for a number of elderly people, who generally suffer from multiple deficiencies. Intervention needs to be tailored to each patient to obtain the maximum effect, designing different exercises for individuals with different kinds of deficiency.