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A Review of Adult-Onset Hearing Loss: a Primer for Neurologists

  • Neurologic Ophthalmology and Otology (R Shin and D Gold, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Neurology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of the Review

The goal of this review is to highlight current approaches to diagnosis and treatment for adult-onset hearing loss in patients likely to present to a neurologist’s office. The review will discuss primary and secondary causes of acute and chronic hearing loss, and will discuss common situations that can be managed by a neurologist as well as situations that require immediate care and referral for further management by an otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon.

Recent Findings

Hearing screening assessments using mobile applications and tablet devices are now available and can be integrated into many clinical practice settings, including in the evaluation of hearing concerns related to various neurological pathologies. For patients presenting with a sudden worsening in hearing, bedside evaluation, including objective measures of hearing, can inform neurologists about diagnosis and subsequent management. For patients who present with gradual worsening in hearing, particularly those related to neurologic disorders, hearing care can be an important adjunct to ongoing neurologic care. More commonly encountered, age-related hearing loss is highly prevalent among older adults and may affect overall neurological assessment, including neurocognitive testing, as well as patient-provider communication, patient satisfaction, and care outcomes. Hearing loss is increasingly recognized as a potentially modifiable risk factor for dementia. Neurologists can support the hearing health of their patients through the routine use of communication strategies and by integrating simple, low-cost technology with their current clinical practices.

Summary

Both acute and chronic hearing loss can be a symptom of many conditions managed by neurologists. Few conditions are emergent, requiring immediate referral to and treatment by an otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon. Despite the range of hearing interventions available, including hearing aids, over-the-counter devices, and aural rehabilitation, hearing loss is a common and under-treated chronic health condition. By promptly addressing a patient’s hearing concerns, neurologists can improve patients’ awareness of the deficit and support the overall importance of maintaining sensory health across the life course.

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Funding

This study was supported in part by a National Institute on Aging grant K23AG059900 (CLN) and a National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Diversity Supplement R33 DC015062-05S (CAP).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cochlear Center for Hearing & Public Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2024 E. Monument Street, Suite 2-700, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Corinne A. Pittman MD & Carrie L. Nieman MD, MPH

  2. Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA

    Corinne A. Pittman MD

  3. Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Bryan K. Ward MD & Carrie L. Nieman MD, MPH

  4. Center for Innovative Care in Aging, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Carrie L. Nieman MD, MPH

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  1. Corinne A. Pittman MD
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Correspondence to Carrie L. Nieman MD, MPH.

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Pittman, C.A., Ward, B.K. & Nieman, C.L. A Review of Adult-Onset Hearing Loss: a Primer for Neurologists. Curr Treat Options Neurol 23, 20 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11940-021-00674-4

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