U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ∙ National Institutes of Health

NIDCD Fact Sheet | Hearing and Balance

Age-Related Hearing
Loss (Presbycusis)

What is age-related hearing loss? pathways from the ear to the brain can also affect
hearing. Long-term exposure to noise (https://www.
Age-related hearing loss (also called presbycusis, nidcd.nih.gov/health/noise-induced-hearing-loss)
pronounced prez-buh-KYOO-sis) is hearing loss that and some medical conditions can also play a role.
occurs gradually for many of us as we grow older. It is In addition, new research suggests that certain
one of the most common conditions affecting adults genes make some people more susceptible to
as we age. Approximately 15% of American adults hearing loss as they age.
(37.5 million) ages 18 and over report some trouble
hearing, and about one in three people in the U.S. Conditions that are more common in older people,
between the ages of 65 and 74 has hearing loss. Nearly such as high blood pressure and diabetes, are
half of those older than 75 have difficulty hearing. associated with hearing loss. In addition, medications
that are toxic to the sensory cells in your ears (some
Having trouble hearing can make it hard to understand chemotherapy drugs, for example) can cause hearing
and follow a doctor’s advice, respond to warnings, loss. Less commonly, abnormalities of the middle
and hear phones, doorbells, and smoke alarms. ear, such as otosclerosis (https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/
Hearing loss can also make it hard to enjoy talking health/otosclerosis), can worsen hearing with age.
with family and friends, leading to feelings of isolation.
Hearing loss typically occurs in both ears as we age. Can I prevent age-related hearing loss?
Because the loss is gradual, you may not realize Scientists don’t yet know how to prevent age-related
that you’ve lost some of your ability to hear. hearing loss, but you can protect yourself from noise-
induced hearing loss. Potential sources of damaging
Why do we lose our hearing as we noises (see https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/listen-
get older? infographic) include loud music, headphones/earbuds
Many things affect our hearing as we age. For used at high volume, construction equipment,
example, changes in the inner ear that can affect fireworks, guns, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and
hearing are common. Age-related changes in the motorcycles. To help safeguard your hearing as you
middle ear and complex changes along the nerve age, avoid loud noises, reduce the amount of time
you’re exposed to loud sounds, and protect your

NIDCD...Advancing the science of communication to improve lives

ears with earplugs or protective earmuffs (https:// What should I do if I have trouble
www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing-protectors). hearing?

How can I tell if I have a hearing If you are concerned about your hearing, you have
problem? options for your next steps. Start by learning more
about hearing loss. Depending on your symptoms,
Ask yourself the following questions. If you answer you might consider over-the-counter hearing aids
“yes” to two or more of these questions, or (https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/over-counter-
“sometimes” to three or more of these questions, hearing-aids). If your symptoms are complex, or if
you could have hearing loss and should consider you have questions about next steps, consider
having your hearing checked. seeking advice from a hearing health care provider.
1. Does a hearing problem cause you difficulty Primary care physicians, otolaryngologists, and
when listening to TV or radio? audiologists can be important parts of your hearing
health care. Each has a different type of training
2. Does a hearing problem cause you difficulty and expertise:
when attending a party?
} A primary care physician is a doctor who practices
3. Does a hearing problem cause you to feel general medicine and is often our first stop for
frustrated when talking to members of medical care. This health care provider can refer
your family? you to a specialist, if needed, and can also help to
4. Does a hearing problem cause you to feel left determine whether you have other medical
out when you are with a group of people? conditions that can contribute to hearing loss.
5. Does a hearing problem cause you difficulty } An otolaryngologist (pronounced oh-toe-lair-in-
when visiting friends, relatives, or neighbors? GAH-luh-jist) is a doctor who specializes in
6. Do you feel challenged by a hearing problem? diagnosing and treating diseases of the ear, nose,
throat, and neck. An otolaryngologist, often
7. Do you feel that any difficulty with your hearing
called an ENT, will try to find out why you’re
limits or hampers your personal or social life?
having trouble hearing and offer treatment
8. Does a hearing problem cause you to feel options. Otolaryngologists often work closely
uncomfortable when talking to friends? with and may refer you to an audiologist.
9. Does a hearing problem cause you to avoid } An audiologist (pronounced aw-dee-AH-luh-jist)
groups of people? has specialized training in identifying and measuring
10. Does a hearing problem cause you to visit hearing loss, determining where along the auditory
friends, relatives, or neighbors less often than pathway there may be a problem with hearing,
you would like? and recommending and providing certain hearing
Adapted from: Cassarly C, Matthews LJ, Simpson AN, Dubno JR. loss interventions, such as hearing aids.
The Revised Hearing Handicap Inventory and Screening Tool Based
on Psychometric Reevaluation of the Hearing Handicap Inventories
for the Elderly and Adults. Ear Hear. 2020 Jan/Feb;41(1):95-105.
doi: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000000746. PMID: 31124792; PMCID:
PMC6864238.

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What treatments and devices can help? } Ask your friends and family to face you when they
talk so that you can see their expressions and lip
Treatment will depend on the severity of your movements. This may help you to understand
hearing loss, so some treatments or devices will what they’re saying.
work better for you than others. A number of
devices and aids can help when you have hearing } Ask people to speak louder, but not shout. You
loss. Here are the most common ones: may need to ask them to slow down when they
speak, or to speak more clearly.
} Hearing aids (https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/
hearing-aids) are electronic instruments you wear } Turn off or turn down the volume of background
in or behind your ear. They make sounds louder. noise, such as the TV, when you’re trying to have
For mild to moderate hearing loss, a new category a conversation.
of hearing aids for adults was established in } Be aware of noise around you that can make hearing
2022 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. more difficult. When you go to a restaurant, for
These devices may be purchased over the counter example, don’t sit near the kitchen or near a band
(OTC) from retail or online outlets without seeing playing music. Ask for seating in a quiet area.
a health care professional or getting a hearing Sitting in a booth can help soften or block noise.
test. If you have tried an OTC hearing aid without
success or have trouble hearing loud sounds, What research does NIDCD support on
consult a hearing health professional, because age-related hearing loss?
your hearing loss may be more severe.
NIDCD supports research on the causes of age-
} Cochlear implants. Cochlear (pronounced COKE- related hearing loss, including genes that may make
lee-ur) implants (https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/ this type of hearing loss more likely. NIDCD-funded
cochlear-implants) are small electronic devices scientists are working to understand what happens
that are surgically implanted in the inner ear and as we age that interferes with our ability to hear
help provide a sense of sound to people who are speech in a noisy environment. NIDCD also funds
profoundly deaf or have severe hearing loss. research that explores changes in how the brain
} Assistive listening devices (https://www.nidcd.nih. processes sound when we lose our hearing. The
gov/health/assistive-devices-people-hearing-voice- research to date supports the use of hearing aids to
speech-or-language-disorders) include telephone maintain the brain’s sound-processing capabilities.
and cellphone amplifying devices, apps for use
with a smartphone or tablet, and closed-circuit NIDCD-supported research provided critical data
systems (hearing loop systems) in some theaters, that contributed to the FDA’s decision (https://
auditoriums, and places of worship. www.nidcd.nih.gov/about/nidcd-director-message/
fdas-new-category-hearing-aids-advances-hearing-
How can my friends and family help me? health-care) to make hearing aids available over the
counter, without a prescription or health care
You and your family can work together to make examination, for adults who believe they have mild
living with hearing loss easier. Here are some things to moderate hearing loss. NIDCD continues to
you can do: support research on ways to make adult hearing
} Tell your friends and family about your hearing loss. health care more accessible and affordable (https://
Explain which listening situations are hard for you. www.nidcd.nih.gov/research/improve-hearing-
health-care).

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Where can I find more information For more information, contact us at:

about age-related hearing loss?

NIDCD Information Clearinghouse
NIDCD maintains a directory of organizations 1 Communication Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20892-3456
providing information on the normal and Toll-free voice: (800) 241-1044
disordered processes of hearing, balance, taste, Toll-free TTY: (800) 241-1055
smell, voice, speech, and language. Visit the NIDCD Email: [email protected]
website at https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/directory to https://www.nidcd.nih.gov
see the directory.
Follow the NIDCD on Twitter at @NIDCD
To read more about hearing loss, visit:
} How Do We Hear?
} Do You Need a Hearing Test? NIDCD supports and conducts research and research
training on the normal and disordered processes
} Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and
language and provides health information, based
} Hearing Aids
upon scientific discovery, to the public.
} Hearing Aids (FDA)
Visit the NIDCD website at http://www.nidcd.nih.gov
to read, print, or download fact sheets.

Age-Related Hearing Loss

(Presbycusis)
NIH Pub. No. 23-DC-4235
February 2023

NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health®