Presbyacusis (age-related hearing loss) | Presbyacusis is the most common type of hearing loss and is caused by the gradual deterioration of the hair cells in the inner ear.
|
 |
 |
In the inner ear there are hair cells that each react to different tones. Some react to high frequency tones (treble) and some to low frequency tones (bass).
The hair cells create neural impulses that are sent via the auditory nerve to the brain for processing.
One of the effects of presbyacusis is deterioration of the hair cells resulting in a decline in hearing ability. The deterioration first affects hearing of high frequency tones and eventually also low frequency tones.
Characteristic signs of presbyacusis |
The characteristic signs of presbyacusis are hearing impairment and decreased speech intelligibility.
The degree of this age induced hearing loss varies from one individual to the other. Some experience a considerable degree of hearing loss already around the age of 65 while others have only an insignificant degree of hearing loss around the age of 80.
It is not possible to treat presbyacusis surgically or medically, but this type of hearing loss can be minimised with hearing aids.
SEE ALSO:
Sensorineural hearing lossHearing
Hearing, a tour of the earHair cellsSpeech intelligibility
