Effect of age on lateralization of hearing functions

Overview

Decades of multidisciplinary research, encompassing micro -⁠ and macro-anatomical studies, molecular biology, electroencephalography and functional neuroimaging, have demonstrated a significant relationship between lateralization of auditory functions and the process of aging, particularly concerning age-related hearing loss (presbycusis). This review discusses the structural and functional evidence of hemispheric asymmetries in auditory processing, highlighting differential hemispheric specialization for variable auditory stimuli and speech in particular. Structural evidence, including asymmetries in the auditory cortex, support the neuroanatomical basis of auditory lateralization. Functional alterations with age, such as de-lateralization from left-dominant auditory cortex to increased right hemisphere activation, may serve as a compensatory mechanism. Understanding these changes is important for developing targeted interventions for auditory dysfunction. Future investigations employing multimodal imaging and electrophysiological recordings are essential for clarifying the structural correlations of functional lateralization alterations.

Keywords:

Auditory cortex – Speech – presbycusis – aging – hemispheric specialization