Presbycusis is considered to be what type of hearing loss?

Presbycusis specifically refers to the gradual hearing loss that occurs as individuals age. It is a natural part of the aging process and typically affects both ears to varying degrees. The underlying causes can include changes in the inner ear structures, as well as changes in the auditory nerve pathways. This type of hearing loss often manifests as difficulty in hearing higher frequencies, leading to challenges in understanding speech, especially in noisy environments.

While there are other categories of hearing loss, presbycusis is characterized by its connection to aging, distinguishing it from genetic conditions, which are rooted in hereditary factors, and congenital hearing loss, which is present at birth. Acquired hearing loss encompasses a broader range of conditions that may develop later in life for various reasons, such as noise exposure or infections, but presbycusis is specifically tied to the age-related decline in auditory function.