[Treating age-related hearing loss: hearing aids are not very popular]

Presbycusis means the deterioration of hearing resulting from the ageing process. Presbycusis can greatly affect one's quality of life; impaired hearing restricts communication and untreated presbycusis could result in social isolation and even depression. Nevertheless, only a minority of elderly with impaired hearing use a hearing aid. It is preferable to propose a hearing-aid fitting in the earliest stage possible, provided the current reimbursement criteria are met. The Dutch consensus model ('Veldnorm Hoortoestelverstrekking 2009') is the most important guideline in this regard.