Presbycusis

A gradual, progressive loss of hearing in both ears that occurs as a natural part of aging, primarily affecting the ability to perceive higher-frequency sounds. Presbycusis is the most common cause of hearing loss in older adults and has significant implications for the design of assistive technologies that use audio output. Systems that rely on speech, earcons, or auditory alerts for older users should consider using lower-pitched voices and sounds, providing volume controls, avoiding high-frequency-only cues, and offering visual or tactile alternatives to audio feedback. Presbycusis may also explain older adults' preferences for male (lower-pitched) voices in speech output systems.