What age-related condition can lead to gradual sensorineural hearing loss?

Presbycusis is the term used to describe age-related hearing loss, which occurs gradually as a person ages. This condition typically involves a sensorineural hearing loss, which arises from changes in the inner ear or auditory nerve.

As individuals grow older, the hair cells in the cochlea can become damaged or die, reducing the ability to hear higher frequencies. Typically, presbycusis affects both ears equally and can be influenced by various factors including genetics, long-term exposure to noise, and overall health.

Understanding presbycusis is important for audiologists and hearing aid dispensers as it highlights the physiological changes that come with aging, enabling better diagnosis and management of hearing loss in older adults. Assessing these changes is crucial for improving quality of life through appropriate interventions.