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Symptoms of Presbycusis

Because hearing loss often occurs gradually, over a number of years, someone with presbycusis may not even be aware of a problem. Family members or friends are often the first to notice.

Presbycusis affects the ability to hear speech in two ways: by reducing a person’s capacity to detect sounds (hearing sensitivity) and by making it difficult to understand certain sounds (word discrimination). Symptoms of hearing loss in older adults vary, based on the type and severity of the problem.

Common signs of age-related hearing loss include:

  • Difficulty understanding spoken words, speech sounds mumbled or slurred
  • High-pitched sounds are hard to distinguish
  • Conversations are difficult to understand, particularly when there’s background noise
  • Men's voices are easier to hear than women's
  • Some loud sounds seem overly loud and annoying
  • Ringing, roaring, or hissing sounds in the ear (tinnitus)

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