Article by Dr. Raghuram YS MD(AYU) and Dr. Manasa S, BAMS<\/b><\/p>\n
Presbycusis, also known as ‘age-related hearing loss’, is one of the most common sensory changes associated with aging. It is also called ‘old hearing’ or ‘elderly hearing’. When not treated promptly, it can significantly affect communication and social interaction. This will also have a negative impact on the overall quality of life.<\/span><\/p>\n Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent health problems and the most common physical change that occurs in people as they age. It develops slowly over time. Presbycusis is classified as a sensorineural hearing loss. It is the effect of age-related damage occurring within the inner ear or auditory pathways and affects the same.<\/span><\/p>\n Epidemiological data suggest that approximately one in three adults aged 65 to 74 experiences some degree of hearing loss. Nearly half of people over the age of 75 have difficulty hearing.<\/span><\/p>\n You may find that people suffering from presbycusis face difficulty in understanding conversations, especially in noisy environments. You may frequently see them increasing the volume of television, mobile phones or other devices.<\/span><\/p>\n There is no definite cure for presbycusis. But, timely evaluation and proper use of hearing aids and assistive technologies has shown considerable improvement in auditory function and daily communication.<\/span><\/p>\n Related Reading \u2013 ‘Presbycusis \u2013 Meaning, Causes, Symptoms, Prognosis, Treatment’<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Presbycusis \u2013 a hearing disorder<\/i><\/b> Presbycusis is a disease of old age. Old age is that stage of life in which Vata predominates. Towards old age, metal decay i.e. depletion and progressive damage of tissues and body structures is common. When metal decays, vata definitely increases. This increased vata causes many health problems in old age and presbycusis is one such disease.<\/span><\/p>\n We can understand from the basic principles of Ayurveda that presbycusis not only occurs in the Vata phase of one’s life, but the disease itself is caused by Vata. Vata dominates the clinical picture of presbycusis. The symptoms, complications and prognosis of the disease can be attributed to the progressive aggravation of Vata in old age. <\/span><\/p>\n Presbycusis is a disease that affects the vata-dominant sense organ and its functions. <\/i><\/b>– The auditory sense i.e. the sense sense of sound is one of the main places of Vata. So, Vata is always present in the ears and is involved in the physiology of hearing and auditory perception. Vata is composed of the elements Vayu (air) and Aakash (space, ether). Therefore, the same elements predominate in the ear also. It is the balance of Vayu and Akash Bhuta in the ear that is responsible for the smooth conduction of sound waves and auditory perception. The balance of Vata in the ears helps in hearing, understanding, comprehension of sounds, speech, words and voices. It forms the foundation of effective communication. When Vata is put into a state of imbalance with the aging process, all of these functions will become disrupted and symptoms of presbycusis will appear.<\/span><\/p>\n The condition called Badhirya as mentioned in Ayurveda gives us a general picture of all types of deafness, loss of hearing ability or semi or complete loss of perception and sensation of hearing. This is a broad term that would include all types of deafness.<\/span><\/p>\n Since presbycusis is age-related hearing loss, it can be considered <\/span>congenital deafness<\/span><\/i>However, such a condition is not named or described in Ayurvedic texts.<\/span><\/p>\n The main pathophysiological event of degeneration of hair cells and nerve endings in the inner ear, as occurs in presbycusis, can be considered to be damage to the Shabdavaha source (auditory channel and associated structures involved in the perception of sound) and Sharvanendriya (sense of hearing) due to the increase of Vata.<\/span><\/p>\n Presbycusis can be classified under Indriya Pradosha Disorder, in which the senses and their functioning suffer from aggravated doshas, \u200b\u200bthe condition being primarily caused by Vata.<\/span><\/p>\n Vata enhancing foods and activities.<\/span><\/p>\n Dhatu decay \u2013 age-related destruction and damage of tissues leading to aggravation of vata or depletion of tissue due to age-related aggravation of vata.<\/span><\/p>\n Asatmya Shravan Indriyartha Sannikarsha \u2013 Excessive, lack or distorted exposure\/exposure of the sense of hearing (sound) to different types of sounds.<\/span><\/p>\n Prajnaparadha \u2013 Repeatedly engaging in conscious mistakes despite knowing that they are harmful to the sense of hearing. Example \u2013 Many of us know that being exposed to high intensity sounds for a long time or constantly exposing the ears to sounds \u2013 like always plugging ears or headphones for work or entertainment (always listening to music) will damage the auditory system in the long run. Yet we keep doing it habitually or obsessively.<\/span><\/p>\n All other factors that contribute to hearing loss are etiological factors for presbycusis.<\/span><\/p>\n Badhirya or deafness occurs when Vata alone or in combination with Kapha blocks the path of sound. (<\/span>Honorable<\/span><\/a>.57\/3)<\/span><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.easyayurveda.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Experience-true-healing.png\")
\n<\/div>\nAyurvedic understanding of presbycusis<\/b><\/h2>\n
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\n<\/div>\ndeafness<\/b><\/h2>\n
sensory pollution disorder<\/b><\/h2>\n
Causes of presbycusis according to Ayurveda<\/b><\/h2>\n
Pathogenesis of deafness.<\/b><\/h2>\n
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