title: [Relationship between sensory hearing loss and depression in elderly people: a literature review].
abstract: Advances in health, social and economic conditions in the developed countries have increased life expectancy and the number of elderly people. However, although health conditions have improved, age-related diseases are still increasing. One of the most common ailments is the age-related hearing loss, which has several pathophysiological causes and may be influenced by age-related morpho-functional changes. Hearing loss may also have underlying conditions in each individual. Sensory hearing loss tends to negatively affect the quality of life of the elderly, interfering with their capacity to communicate and affecting mood and the level of participation in social life. This may be independent of the cognitive and physical state of individuals, which in the long term and in many cases may end in depression. Detection and early treatment of hearing loss is an important bio-psycho-social benefit to the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Investigación en Gerontología, Universidad de A Coruña, A Coruña, España.
authors.forename: José Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Millán-Calenti
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maseda
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rochette
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: García-Monasterio
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans