HESI (Health and Environmental Sciences Institute) Health Assessment Practice Test

Presbycusis refers to age-related hearing loss, which commonly affects older adults. A notable consequence of presbycusis is the difficulty in hearing certain sounds, particularly consonants. Consonants are often higher frequency sounds, and as the sensitivity to these higher frequencies diminishes with age, it becomes harder for individuals to distinguish words clearly, impacting communication.

This decline in the ability to hear consonants can lead to misunderstandings in conversations, making social interactions more challenging for older adults. Sound clarity decreases, which can affect not only how well they can communicate but also their overall quality of life, as effective communication is fundamental to social involvement.

In contrast, increased clarity of sounds, improved sound localization, or increased high-frequency hearing are not typically associated with presbycusis. Instead, these are antithetical to the experiences of most individuals with age-related hearing loss.