[Iatrogenic and environmentally-induced hearing disorders in advanced age]

In a short survey the physiologic basis of hearing mechanisms, main etiological factors and histopathological findings in hearing disorders are reviewed. The main cause of iatrogenic sensoneural hearing disorders are aminoglycosides. Some hints are given to prevent these ototoxic side effects. The so-called "sociacusis" is a special part of environmental hearing disorders, due to non-occupational noise trauma. Presbyacusis is therefore the end result of various exogenous and also endogenous factors impairing the hearing ability during the individual course of life.