What is a common cause of presbycusis?

The correct answer is age, as presbycusis is a type of hearing loss that occurs gradually as people grow older. It is primarily associated with the natural aging process, which affects the inner ear and the auditory pathways. Over time, the sensory cells and nerve endings in the cochlea become damaged or degenerate, leading to a decrease in the ability to hear high-frequency sounds, particularly conversations, and background noise.

While excessive noise exposure can certainly contribute to hearing loss, it is not a defining characteristic of presbycusis. Genetic factors can also play a role in hearing loss but are more related to individual predispositions rather than the universal aging process that affects all individuals. Twilight vision loss refers to difficulty seeing in low-light conditions, which is unrelated to hearing loss. Therefore, age is the foundational cause of presbycusis and aligns with the physiological changes that occur in the auditory system as part of normal aging.