Some degree of hearing loss comes along with normal healthy aging and is sometimes called presbycusis or age-related hearing loss (ARHL). There are probably multiple factors that contribute to age-related hearing loss. This type of hearing loss usually starts slowly, progresses gradually, and is similar in both ears. Audiometry will usually show that the high frequencies are affected first, and more than the lower frequencies. If history of hearing loss is unusual (e.g., it starts abruptly or progresses very rapidly), or if the results of audiometry are unusual (e.g., one ear is affected much more than the other, or the low frequencies are more affected than the high frequencies), then it is medically reasonable to explore other possible causes of hearing loss. Patients with presbycusis often consult an audiologist, who may recommend amplification.