Health maintenance issues of the elderly. Hearing.

Estimates of the prevalence of hearing impairment individuals over 65 years old are on the order of 30 percent. Although the psychosocial consequences of hearing impairment may be profound, less than 20 percent of hearing-impaired adults use hearing aids to compensate for their hearing loss. Primary care physicians play a vital role in identifying hearing impairment in the elderly and in assisting the older adult in obtaining rehabilitative services, including hearing aids. Screening tools, which are inexpensive, simple to use, and valid, are available for use in the primary care setting.