A noisy problem

People often become more sensitive to noise as they age, which can affect their mental and physical health.


Image: © Juanmonino/Getty Images

Are you more sensitive to noises than you used to be? Do certain sounds now feel too loud and jarring? Don't worry; it's actually quite normal.

Age-related hearing loss is common among older adults and affects about two-thirds of men in their 70s and 85% of men ages 80 and older. Although it's not clear why, this can also make people hypersensitive to sounds that they used to tolerate easily, which in turn can affect their well-being.

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