Speech and hearing problems in the geriatric patient

Regardless of the physical and mental health of any elderly person, verbal communications tend to deteriorate with advancing years. A significant loss of hearing occurs in 30-50 percent of persons over age 65, and voice changes are virtually inevitable after the age of 60. These alterations in the organs of communication increase markedly in incidence and degree after age 70. Deafness is a symptom and not a disease. Presbycusis is the result of degenerative changes affecting the organ of Corti and its central connections. The effects of aging on the expressive system of human communications may take different forms, including changes in the pitch, intensity, and quality of the voice. Therapy consists of rehabilitation, substitution, and amplification for the preservation and maintenance of communications. For patients with presbycusis, rehabilitation may include speech reading, auditory training, speech improvement, hearing-aid instruction, and guidance in social adjustment. Patients with speech and voice impairment need re-education by a skilled speech pathologist. With the aid of communication specialists, the geriatric patient can attain a high level of satisfaction from the give-and-take of personal communications.