Recognition and Management of Hearing Defects

Abstract

Twenty-five years ago, few persons with impaired hearing could hope for medical help. Today, through development of microsurgical technics, about half of all young and middle-aged adults with progressive hearing impairment of a conductive type can expect to regain normal or near-normal hearing. Management requires accurate diagnosis, surgical correction when possible, or application of rehabilitative measures such as hearing aids, instruction in lip reading, and speech correction for persons with irreversible neurosensory losses.