Marian McLeod, MEd (Counselling), Manager/Supervisor, Hearing Care Counselling Program, The Canadian Hearing Society, Kingston Regional Office, Kingston, ON.

Seniors with long-term hearing loss find it progressively more difficult to understand conversation and remain involved in society. When hearing impairment combines with other disabilities, the result is to multiply, rather than only add to, the negative consequences.¹ Poor vision, arthritis and other illnesses complicate the management of hearing loss. No hearing loss should be considered unimportant.

Acquired hearing loss in seniors is a hidden disability, yet is one of the most common chronic disabilities associated with aging. Acquired hearing loss in seniors may occur for a variety of reasons, including illness, head trauma, presbycusis, ototoxic medications, heredity, wax build-up in the ear canals or prolonged noise exposure. Hearing loss may be sensorineural or conductive. Presbycusis initially affects hearing of the high frequency range and eventually the low frequency range. Thus, at first it may be difficult to understand speech in a noisy room, but the disability can progress to the point where communication is difficult in all situations.

Regardless of cause, hearing loss in seniors profoundly affects every dimension of their lives as well as their significant others.

André Tanguay, MD, Chief Physician, Pavillon Hubert-Maisonneuve, CHSLD Drapeau-Deschambault, Rosemère, QC.

A common theme in dementia is misunderstanding--patients with dementia are confused in their thoughts, about the people around them, and by their environment. Furthermore, the patient's family should not be astounded by the seemingly different viewpoints of professionals. In dementia, understanding is of the utmost importance between professionals and family caregivers, and delivering the facts in a clear manner is essential. Striving for this goal, the training tool presented in this article allows the factual understanding of the natural progression of Alzheimer disease. Clinical data and 13 grades are charted within a single table to allow optimal understanding of this disease.
Key words: Alzheimer disease, caregivers, GDS-FAST, training table, MMSE.

Jagdish Butany, MBBS, MS, FRCPC and Manmeet S. Ahluwalia, MBBS, Department of Pathology, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON.

With advancing age, the cardiovascular system undergoes subtle but progressive changes that result in altered function. The endocardium becomes thicker and opaque, left ventricular (LV) wall thickness increases and there is increased interstitial fibrosis in the myocardium. Although myocyte size increases, the number of myocytes decreases, as does the number of cells in the conduction system. The decrease in the filling rate of LV in early diastole is accompanied by a greater rate of filling in late diastole augmented by atrial contraction. Maximum achievable heart rate and ejection fraction (with exercise) decreases. All these changes make increasing age a significant independent risk factor for heart failure, the most common reason for hospitalisation in patients older than 65 years.
Key words: aging, cardiovascular disease, myocardium, fibrosis, heart failure.

Kiran Rabheru, MD, CCFP, FRCP, ABPN, Physician Leader, Geriatric Psychiatry Program, Regional Mental Health Care; Chair, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective and relatively safe procedure for treating severe, treatment-refractory mood disorders in special populations, particularly in the elderly. The frail elderly are especially good candidates for ECT because they are often unresponsive to, or intolerant of, psychotropic medications. The central nervous, cardiovascular and respiratory systems require special attention during the course of ECT. With modern anesthesia techniques and careful medical management of each high-risk patient, most elderly can successfully complete a course of ECT. Obtaining informed consent for ECT from incapable patients is a challenging issue with few concrete guidelines.
Key words: electroconvulsive therapy, elderly, depression, special patient population.

Christopher J. Danner, MD, Fellow Otology/Neurotology/Skull Base Surgery and Jeffery P. Harris, MD, PhD, Departmental Chairman, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of California--San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.

Multiple factors lead to the cause and progression of presbycusis or hearing loss secondary to increased age. Noise trauma, genetic predisposition and oxidative damage all have been implicated in its development. Tinnitus, a frequent side effect of hearing loss, often has its origin within the central auditory system. A classification scheme for hearing loss and treatment options for tinnitus are discussed.
Key words: hearing loss, presbycusis, tinnitus, free radicals, central auditory system.

Lorne Bellan, MD, FRCSC, Acting Department Head, Department of Ophthalmology, Misericordia Health Centre, Winnipeg, MB.

In addition to the clinical presentation and diagnosis of cataracts, a summary of the development of cataract surgery is presented. Indications for cataract surgery are now based on subjective visual impairment rather than measured visual acuity. Cataract surgery can now be done safely through 3mm self-sealing incisions with excellent results and rapid recovery.
Key words: cataract, lens, phacoemulsification, visual acuity, red reflex.

Catherine M. Birt, MD, FRCSC, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.

Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is a disease of the optic nerve head, frequently but not always associated with elevated intraocular pressure. This article discusses the presentation and risk factors associated with POAG, how the diagnosis is made by the ophthalmologist, and the current medical management of the disease.
Key words: primary open angle glaucoma, risk factors, anti-glaucoma medications.

Robert J. Campbell MD, MSc and William G. Hodge MD, PhD, FRCSC, University of Ottawa Eye Institute, Ottawa, ON.

The differential diagnosis of the red eye involves structures ranging from the periorbita, lids and conjunctiva, to the surface sclera and episclera, to the cornea and uvea and to acute angle closure glaucoma. The history and physical examination can usually differentiate these entities from one another. The most important part of the examination is the visual acuity, which can usually distinguish the serious red eye from more benign causes.
Key words: orbital cellulites, conjunctivitis, blepharitis, keratitis, acute glaucoma, red eye.

Doron Milstein, PhD, Hofstra University, Long Island, NY, USA.
Barbara E. Weinstein, PhD, Graduate School and University Center, CUNY, New York, NY, USA.

Hearing loss diminishes quality of life. The elderly rely on auditory input to maintain social contact and awareness of their environment, such that hearing loss in this age group can lead to isolation and withdrawal from the community. Most elderly individuals do not take advantage of available audiological services nor do they use hearing aids (HAs), the treatment of choice for their hearing loss. Modern HAs utilise digital technology and computer software to improve speech intelligibility. Current research reveals that HAs are effective in minimising the negative consequences of hearing loss in the daily functioning of the elderly. The availability of sophisticated technology allows for more efficient HA fitting, and allows the audiologist to spend more time counseling.
Key words: presbycusis, hearing aid technologies, rehabilitation, assistive listening devices.

Sohel Somani, MD, Senior Resident, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is a progressive disease affecting the central vision of patients older than 55 years. Typically, ARMD patients are classified into dry and wet forms based on clinical characteristics. This has important implications with respect to their clinical presentation, prognosis and management options. Important risk factors in the progression of disease include age, smoking and drusen characteristics. The promising results of a new study on vitamin supplementation provide direction for treatment and prevention, as well as the understanding of the role of antioxidants in ARMD pathogenesis. High-dose vitamins (beta- carotene, vitamins C and E and zinc) should be considered in certain patients with ARMD.
Key words: macular degeneration, vitamins, low vision, supplementation, Amsler grid.