Definition of Age-related hearing loss:

Age-related hearing loss is the slow loss of the ability to hear high frequencies, which occurs as people get older.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Age-related hearing loss is called presbycusis. It is unknown whether a specific cause such as noise trauma leads to presbycusis, but there appears to be a genetic predisposition.

Age-related hearing loss tends to occur in families. The disorder occurs in about 25% of people aged 65 to 75 and in 70 - 80% of those over age 75.