Presbycusis. When hearing wanes, is amplification the answer?

Many persons with sensorineural hearing loss can benefit from wearing a hearing aid. Of the approximately 1 million hearing aids sold in the United States in 1983, more than half were purchased by persons over age 65. Persons with presbycusis should have audiologic and otologic evaluations to determine whether medical or surgical treatment is possible and, if not, whether they can benefit from hearing aid use. The patient can better assess the benefits of hearing aid use by using an appropriately selected hearing aid on a trial basis. Patients and their families also benefit from receiving suggestions for easing communication difficulties.