What is Presbycusis?

Discover how these difficulties to hear can be handled wearing hearing aids

Age related hearing loss: Presbycusis

Presbycusis is the loss of hearing that gradually occurs in most of the adults as we grow older. It is one of the most common conditions affecting older and elderly adults.

Presbycusis is the most common type of hearing loss (sensorineural), and it can be caused by a wide range of conditions but most commonly by the natural ageing process which accounts for around 90% of this type of hearing loss. It is an age-related type of hearing loss, and it affects 1 in 7 over the age of 65. Changes in your hearing as you get older are normal, if you’re concerned about your hearing, help and support from your local Amplifon clinic is never too far away.

People affected by this condition are not deaf as such. They continue to hear bass sounds, but high-pitched sounds are hard to distinguish. This is especially true for childish and feminine voices, whispers and some "whistling" consonants (S, Z, CH or V or F).

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The symptoms of presbycusis

The first signs are when a person begins to feel uncomfortable with a conversation in a noisy environment such as a restaurant or at a family meal. It is then to the sound of the telephone or the television to appear too low. The condition can also be manifested by distorted sounds and misinterpreted words.

Some common symptoms that you can keep in mind when you think someone close may be suffering from this condition are:

  • Age: gradual deterioration in hearing across both ears in high pitched sounds
  • Traumatic exposure to loud noise: this may be from a sudden, very loud sound or repeated exposure to high-level sound. Hearing loss could be permanent or temporary
  • Head injury: This can cause trauma to the cochlea and nerves in the ear
  • Viral infections of the inner ear and auditory nerve
  • Some drug treatments
  • Family history
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Consequences of presbycusis

This isn’t a condition to be taken lightly. It can complicate daily life, represent inconveniences and risks, and often lead to a decrease in social activities.

A person suffering from presbycusis may also have difficulty distinguishing reverberant sounds and may complain more frequently about tinnitus. In addition, high-pitched sounds such as “s” or “th” are often particularly hard to distinguish.

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Treatments for presbycusis

It is best to take action early on your hearing loss and consider using hearing aids. This not only allows you to adapt more quickly and enjoy better listening comfort, but also helps to slow the progression of hearing loss and support the cognitive functions of your brain.

At Amplifon, we offer a comprehensive hearing test to ensure your hearing problems are accurately diagnosed by a specialist. This is an important step towards improving your hearing health. You will also find a wide variety of hearing aids, designed with cutting-edge technology, all available to help you start improving your quality of life.

Check out related content

The Amplifon blog is our place to explore ideas and themes of interest. For professional audiology advice, please contact your local clinic for a consultation.

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