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Presbycusis is a type of sensorineural hearing loss which is caused by natural aging. Presbycusis occurs over time, becoming worse as people age and can not be reversed. It is the most common form of hearing loss and the second most common illness among older people, effecting up to 1 in 3 people by the age of 65.
Presbyusis results in less ability to hear sounds. Since it occurs over time, many people do not know that they are affected and think that their hearing is normal. There are symptoms that show signs that hearing loss is present.
Communication for people with presbycusis usually will become a lot more difficult. Although noises may still sound loud, it is common that the sounds will not be clear. This is especially true when hearing high-pitched or high-frequency sounds.
Unlike other forms of hearing loss such as noise-induced hearing loss it is a normal part of aging. Even though it occurs naturally, there are factors that can make it worse and make it happen earlier in life. Presbycusis is usually a form of sensorineural hearing loss, which means that it is due to problems in the inner ear or the hearing nerve due to loss or damage to the hair cells that line the inner ear. The most common causes of sensorineural hearing loss are exposure to loud noise for long periods of time and some diseases.
Most hearing loss can both be prevented or managed if the proper precautions are taken.