Which type of hearing loss is typically associated with presbycusis and ototoxicity?

Which type of hearing loss is typically associated with presbycusis and ototoxicity?

• A. Low-frequency hearing loss
• B. Flat hearing loss
• C. Sloping, high-frequency hearing loss
• D. Notched hearing loss

Answer: (C)

The correct answer is sloping, high-frequency hearing loss, which is commonly associated with both presbycusis and ototoxicity. Presbycusis refers to age-related hearing loss, which usually begins with difficulties in hearing high-frequency sounds, often leading to a sloping configuration on an audiogram. This progressive loss occurs due to aging in the auditory system, typically affecting the hair cells in the cochlea responsible for high-frequency sound perception. Over time, individuals experience a gradual decline in their ability to hear these higher frequencies, resulting in a characteristic slope on hearing assessments. Ototoxicity is the harmful effect of certain medications or chemicals on the inner ear, which can also lead to high-frequency hearing loss. Substances such as specific antibiotics, chemotherapeutics, and some diuretics can cause damage to the cochlea, where high-frequency hair cells are particularly vulnerable. As a result, patients exposed to ototoxic agents often exhibit a similar sloping pattern of hearing loss. Both presbycusis and ototoxicity primarily affect the higher frequencies of sound, confirming that sloping high-frequency hearing loss is the correct choice for this question.

The correct answer is sloping, high-frequency hearing loss, which is commonly associated with both presbycusis and ototoxicity.

Presbycusis refers to age-related hearing loss, which usually begins with difficulties in hearing high-frequency sounds, often leading to a sloping configuration on an audiogram. This progressive loss occurs due to aging in the auditory system, typically affecting the hair cells in the cochlea responsible for high-frequency sound perception. Over time, individuals experience a gradual decline in their ability to hear these higher frequencies, resulting in a characteristic slope on hearing assessments.

Ototoxicity is the harmful effect of certain medications or chemicals on the inner ear, which can also lead to high-frequency hearing loss. Substances such as specific antibiotics, chemotherapeutics, and some diuretics can cause damage to the cochlea, where high-frequency hair cells are particularly vulnerable. As a result, patients exposed to ototoxic agents often exhibit a similar sloping pattern of hearing loss.

Both presbycusis and ototoxicity primarily affect the higher frequencies of sound, confirming that sloping high-frequency hearing loss is the correct choice for this question.