[Audiometric test battery for presbycusis]

Old people often complain that they can no longer sufficiently participate in communication with spoken language. The reasons for this lie in pathophysiological processes as well as in acoustic parameters and the decline in cognitive performance that frequently occurs in old age, which together severely limit the individual benefits of speech. Age-related hearing loss consists of a variety of pathophysiological and cognitive factors. Several audiometric procedures are necessary for profound diagnostics, planning and implementation of interventions for hearing improvement as well as interventions for the individual improvement of the benefits of hearing in everyday life. In a basic test battery, the subjective and objective procedures for the primary detailed quantification and differentiation of the pathophysiological effects of presbycusis are listed, which serve as a basis for interventions to improve hearing. If necessary, audiometric procedures for more in-depth pathophysiological analyses can be used as part of the extended test battery. They are mainly used to differentiate between peripheral and retrocochlear factors of age-related hearing loss. The aim of the methods in the test battery for the evaluation of communication impairment in everyday life is the quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the ability to participate in communication with spoken language under realistic acoustic everyday conditions. From the results, acoustic and cognitive factors can be identified which determine the limited benefits of speech. Thus, strategies and procedures for the improvement of speech communication can be derived which, despite the pathophysiological conditions, can lead to an improved participation in speech communication in the everyday life of the patients.