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What is happening with hearing as people age?

A number of age-related changes occur in the ear:

• Membranes in the middle ear, including the eardrum, become less flexible with age.
• The small bones in the middle ear, the ossicles, become stiffer.
• Changes also occur in the inner ear but it is unclear whether it is aging or exposure to environmental noise that causes these problems that result in hearing loss.
• Changes in the middle ear with advancing age also contribute to a weakening sense of balance. The vestibular system is responsible for our sense of balance. The vestibular apparatus begins to degenerate with age in a similar way to the hearing apparatus. Equilibrium becomes compromised and older individuals may complain of dizziness and find it difficult to move quickly without losing their balance.