Why do people lose their hearing when they age?
People lose their hearing when they age because of age-related changes in the entire auditory system from the outer ear, through the inner ear and sometimes within the brain itself. Hearing loss due to the aging process is called presbycusis. In most cases, hearing loss is slowly progressive, typically affects both ears and may have an adverse effect on the individual’s ability to understand speech. The typical complaint of older adults with “classic presbycusis” is that they can hear people talking, but they cannot make out the words. Presbycusis, hearing loss that is associated with aging: • Is permanent • Typically affects both ears equally • Is greater for high-pitched sounds • Is more common and severe for men • Gradually worsens with age Other factors that may increase the likelihood of hearing loss in individuals as they age include a lifetime of exposure to noise, a family history of hearing loss, and medications that are toxic to the ear (ototoxic). In addition, health problem
