Hearing loss due to old age, which is also called presbycusis, is the gradual process of hearing loss occurring as people get older. It is a normal process, however if the affected person has a severe hearing loss and therefore limitations in daily living, then he should consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Presbycusis describes the process of the gradual, age-related, progressive hassle to hear, especially sounds with high frequency. Presbycusis most commonly occurs in both ears symmetrically, although not necessarily at the same time or speed rate. Since the loss of hearing is a gradual one, people with presbycusis may not realize directly that their hearing is diminishing.
The cause of presbycusis is the progressive degeneration of auditory cells in the inner ear, which are necessary for hearing. Several factors promote the development of presbycusis such as repeated exposure to loud sounds, music, or equipment during the life. Besides, hereditary (genetic) influences, diseases (diabetes, high blood pressure) und some medications are known to increase the risk for presbycusis. Common symptoms include symmetrical difficulty in hearing and a ringing (tinnitus) in the ears.
Treatment is focused on improving daily hearing function, like using hearing aids, telephone amplifiers and other assistive devices. In severe cases speech reading (lip reading) and sign languages can also help. Sometimes a doctor will recommend a cochlear implant for those with nearly complete hearing loss, which is very uncommon for presbycusis. A surgery will be necessary to place an implant. An implant can help an almost deaf person with functional hearing nerve detect sounds again. With practice it can allow people to understand speech, but it does not restore the normal hearing.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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