What is age-related hearing loss?

Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is a hearing loss that gradually occurs in most of us as we grow older. It is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults.

Approximately one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 has hearing loss, and nearly half of those older than 75 have difficulty hearing. 

Having trouble hearing can make it hard to understand and follow a doctor's advice, respond to warnings, and hear phones, doorbells, and smoke alarms. Hearing loss can also make it hard to enjoy talking with family and friends, leading to feelings of isolation.

Age-related hearing loss most often occurs in both ears, affecting them equally. Because the loss is gradual, you may not realize that you've lost some of your ability to hear if you have age-related hearing loss.

There are many causes of age-related hearing loss. Most commonly, it arises from changes in the inner ear as we age. But it can also result from changes in the middle ear or complex changes along the nerve pathways from the ear to the brain. Certain medical conditions and medications may also play a role.