What is a common issue noted during early stages of presbycusis?

The early stages of presbycusis, which refers to age-related hearing loss, often manifest in difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds. As individuals age, the hair cells in the cochlea that respond to higher frequencies tend to be among the first to deteriorate. This results in a selective loss of the ability to perceive sounds such as birds chirping or the high notes of a musical instrument.

While other issues may also be present as presbycusis progresses, such as challenges with speech comprehension or background noise, the initial symptoms most commonly begin with a decline in the ability to hear higher-pitched sounds. Increased sensitivity to loud noises can occur in certain types of hearing loss but is not a typical early sign of presbycusis.