What is the most common type of hearing loss that is age-related?

The most common type of hearing loss associated with aging is sensorineural hearing loss. This hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the inner ear or to the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain. Common causes include changes in the inner ear and auditory nerve, which typically deteriorate due to aging. This type of hearing loss reduces the ability to hear higher frequencies at first, such as female and children’s voices, and difficulty understanding speech against background noise. Because the cells in the inner ear responsible for hearing do not regenerate, this hearing loss is typically permanent and progressive.