A 76-year-old adult expresses frustration to the nurse regarding hearing loss despite a lifetime of being conscientious about avoiding known causes of hearing damage. Which of the following age-related changes may result in hearing loss?
A) Degeneration of the inner ear structures
B) Decreased viscosity and quantity of cerumen
C) Plaque formation and occlusion of the Eustachian tubes
D) Hypertrophy of the external ear structures
Ans: A
Age-related changes of the inner ear include loss of hair cells, reduction of blood supply, diminution of endolymph production, decreased basilar membrane flexibility, degeneration of spiral ganglion cells, and loss of neurons in the cochlear nuclei. These inner ear changes result in the degenerative hearing impairment termed presbycusis. Cerumen often becomes more viscous with age, and occlusion of the Eustachian tubes is not a normal, age-related change. Changes to the external ear structures are not implicated in age-related hearing loss.
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