Presbycusis Research Papers

The elderly population is at a high risk of developing presbycusis, commonly called age-related hearing loss. The criterion that defines a hearing loss, such as the audiometric threshold, varies from case to case. Those who suffer from presbycusis experience difficulty understanding speech and communicating efficiently. Gate and Mills (2005) state that the hearing loss starts in the high frequencies and progressively affects the low frequencies. It is a common misconception that aging is the sole cause of presbycusis; many factors other than aging contribute to presbycusis. . Both environmental and genetic factors attribute to the development of presbycusis. However, no one has revealed the factors (genetic or environmental) that may be held
The interaction of both genetic and environmental factors is believed to make the effects of presbycusis come about earlier and become more severe, but the incidence is unknown. “More than 2.2 million adults older than 70 years have hearing impairment in the United States” (Cruickshanks et
1041). The increasing prevalence of presbycusis may be due to a multitude of factors. Aging is one of the more common factors that are frequently linked to presbycusis among studies. Cruickshanks et al. (2003) determined the effects, rate, and development of hearing loss in adults based in Beaver Dam. Wisconsin. Many of the participants reported that they had never had their hearing tested, which may impair their ability to communicate effectively. Participants had a baseline and follow-up examination of hearing that consisted of an otoscopic evaluation, tympanometry, pure tone air conduction (AC), and pure tone bone conduction (BC). A questionnaire was filled out containing information pertinent to ear-related history. Participants were between 43 to 84 years of age; of the 3,556 participants, 2,721 completed both the baseline and follow-up examination. Those who only participated in the baseline and not the five-year follow up were probably smokers. Helzner et al., (2005) found that those who smoke are at a greater risk of developing a hearing loss; the participants who did not complete the follow-up examination may have been experiencing some of the socially stigmatizing consequences (depression and isolation) of hearing loss (Gopinath et