Aging Changes in the Senses

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Hearing

Your ears have two jobs. One is hearing and the other is maintaining balance. Hearing occurs after vibrations cross the eardrum to the inner ear. They are changed into nerve impulses and carried to the brain by the auditory nerve.

Balance (equilibrium) is controlled in a portion of the inner ear. Fluid and small hairs in the semicircular canal (labyrinth) stimulate the nerve that helps the brain maintain balance.

As you age, your ear structures deteriorate. The eardrum often thickens and the inner ear bones and other structures are affected. It often becomes increasingly difficult to maintain balance.

Hearing may decline slightly, especially that of high-frequency sounds, particularly in people who have been exposed to a lot of noise when younger. This age-related hearing loss is called presbycusis.

The sharpness (acuity) of hearing may decline slightly beginning about age 50, possibly caused by changes in the auditory nerve. In addition, the brain may have a slightly decreased ability to process or "translate" sounds into meaningful information. Impacted ear wax is another cause of trouble hearing and is more common with increasing age.

Some hearing loss is almost inevitable. It is estimated that 30% of all people over 65 have significant hearing impairment.

Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound has problems getting through the external and middle ear. Surgery or a hearing aid may be helpful for this type of hearing loss, depending on the specific cause.

Sensorineural hearing loss involves damage to the inner ear, auditory nerve, or the brain. This type of hearing loss may or may not respond to treatment.

Persistent, abnormal ear noise (tinnitus) is another fairly common hearing problem, especially for older adults.