RT Journal
A1 Punnoose AR, Lynm C, Golub RM
T1 ADult hearing loss
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2012
FD March 21
VO 307
IS 11
SP 1215
OP 1215
DO 10.1001/jama.2012.185
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2012.185
AB 
As adults age, they can develop hearing loss, which can be partial (hearing impairment ) or complete (deafness ). Conductive  hearing loss is caused by obstruction of or mechanical damage to the outer or middle ear. Sensorineural  hearing loss is usually permanent and is caused by damage to the auditory nerve  (a nerve that relays hearing information to the brain) or the inner ear. Presbycusis  refers to age- associated sensorineural hearing loss and is the most common cause of hearing loss in older adults. In 2008, 31% of Americans older than 65 years had presbycusis and 70% older than 85 years had presbycusis. Risk factors for hearing loss include chronic exposure to loud machinery or music, chronic ear infections, increasing age, and genetic predisposition (passed on from parents to children).