What is a common complication of presbycusis in patients?

Presbycusis refers to age-related hearing loss that typically affects older adults. One of the hallmark characteristics of this condition is the gradual and progressive loss of the ability to hear high-pitched sounds. As individuals age, the hair cells in the cochlea that are responsible for sensing high-frequency sounds can become damaged or die off, leading to a notable decline in hearing sensitivity in those higher frequencies. This results in individuals having more difficulty understanding speech, particularly in noisy environments where high-frequency sounds, such as consonant sounds, are crucial for clarity.

In contrast, the ability to hear lower-pitched sounds often remains relatively intact until later stages of hearing loss or more severe types of auditory damage occur. Therefore, decreased ability to hear high-pitched sounds is a common complication associated with presbycusis, making it the correct choice in this question. The other answer choices do not accurately reflect the typical progression and characteristics of presbycusis.