Hearing loss - age related; Presbycusis

The loss of hearing occurs slowly over time. It is most difficult to hear high-frequency sounds, such as someone talking. As hearing gets worse, it may become difficult to hear sounds at lower pitches.

Symptoms include:

• Certain sounds seem overly loud
• Difficulty hearing things in noisy areas
• High-pitched sounds such as "s" or "th" are hard to distinguish from one another
• Men's voices are easier to hear than womens.
• Other people's voices sound mumbled or slurred
• Ringing in the ears

The symptoms of presbycusis may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Talk to you health care provider if you have any of these symptoms.

A complete physical exam is performed to rule out medical conditions that can cause hearing loss. The health care provider will use an instrument called an otoscope to look in your ears. Sometimes, wax can block the ear canals and cause hearing loss.

You may be sent to an ear, nose, and throat doctor and a hearing specialist (audiologist). Hearing tests can help determine the extent of hearing loss.

Images

Ear anatomy

Previous Section

Age Overview

Next Section

Age Treatment

Review Date: 12/13/2010
Reviewed By: Michael Langan, M.D. Department of Geriatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)