The eardrum and other structures of the inner ear become __________ during middle adulthood.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

As people enter middle adulthood, their eardrum and other structures of the inner ear become less flexible and less sensitive to sound. This occurs due to a natural age-related process called presbycusis, which involves the degeneration of hair cells in the inner ear that are responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals that the brain can interpret. As a result, middle-aged adults may start to have difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds and distinguishing sounds in noisy environments.

The Eardrum and Other Structures of the Inner Ear Become