What is presbycusis?

Presbycusis refers to the gradual and age-related decline in hearing, particularly affecting the ability to hear high-frequency sounds. This condition is a common phenomenon as individuals age and can be attributed to various factors, including changes in inner ear structures, which can result in decreased sensitivity to certain frequencies.

In presbycusis, the decline is typically bilateral (affecting both ears) and is characterized by a noticeable difficulty in understanding speech, particularly in noisy environments, as well as challenges in perceiving higher-pitched sounds like the voices of women and children. This gradual loss of hearing is often imperceptible at first, making it a common but overlooked aspect of aging.

The other options describe different types of hearing loss not related to aging. Sudden hearing loss is typically acute and can result from various factors such as viral infections or trauma. Hearing loss due to trauma refers specifically to damage from external forces, such as loud noises or physical injury. Loss of hearing due to infection involves auditory impairment that arises from infections affecting the ear, such as otitis media. None of these conditions describe the progressive and age-related decline encapsulated in the definition of presbycusis.