Hearing and aging

Although changes in hearing acuity are expected to occur with aging, the im pact of that sensory loss is frequently obscure, often discounted, and not appreciated. However, significant elements of communication comprising a co mplex matrix of sounds often are lost or distorted as individuals age. The invisible handicap of hearing loss must not be ignored. Across the many typ es of auditory differences among the aging, an appreciation of the effect o f reduced access to meaningful sounds can help both the student and practit ioner of gerontology gain insight into clients' response behaviors that are socially adequate but insufficient or those that seem off target, out of p lace, or even unacceptable. Such knowledge can give gerontologists an advan tage in handling otherwise stressful situations. Additionally, they can gai n the ability to assess the need for changes in communication patterns or f or professional consultation to ensure the quality of life of those aging i ndividuals in their care.