Otolaryngologic Diseases in the Elderly: Characteristics and Management

Otolaryngology covers four of the five important special sensory organs of human body. Starting at the age of thirty, the auditory, olfactory, gustatory, and tactile senses begin to age every year at a rate around 1%. Men in their 50's begin to develop symptoms of aging including presbycusis, disorders of smell and taste, and oral pharyngolaryngeal xerosis. In late 50's presbylanynges becomes distinct and enters the second stage of voice changes. From 70's and on mild or moderate communication problems become evident leading to disabilities in everyday life.