Presbycusis is the most common type of hearing loss in older adults, affecting a significant portion of the elderly population. Advanced age is the primary risk factor for presbycusis, but genetic factors, noise exposure, and other environmental factors can also contribute to its development.
Presbycusis primarily involves sensorineural hearing loss, which results from the destruction of hair cells at the cochlear base.
Presbycusis typically affects both ears and progresses slowly over time. It often starts with high-frequency sounds and gradually extends to lower frequencies.
The cocktail party effect refers to the brain's remarkable ability to concentrate its auditory attention on a specific stimulus while effectively disregarding a multitude of other stimuli. An example of this phenomenon is when someone at a noisy party can tune in and focus on a single conversation amidst the background noise.[1][2] Listeners possess the skill to separate various auditory inputs into distinct streams and then determine which of these streams are the most relevant and important to them.
Affected patients report hearing loss in both ears. Above all, high tones are harder to hear, and language comprehension is reduced (especially with several interlocutors) with loss of discrimination.
There is an increased sensitivity to noise due to positive recruitment (Limited dynamic range; discomfort in a noisy environment) with a reduction of discomfort level.
Hearing aids are the mainstay of treatment for presbycusis, as they can amplify sound and improve speech perception. Assistive listening devices and auditory rehabilitation programs can also be beneficial.
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