Hearing decline predicted by elders' stereotypes.

Although age-related hearing loss is one of the most prevalent conditions affecting older individuals, little research has been conducted on the social-psychological factors that might contribute to it. The present study examines whether older individuals' age stereotypes predict screened hearing over time. The sample consisted of 546 community-dwelling persons, aged 70 to 96 years old. Participants with more negative and more external (i.e., related to physical appearance) age stereotypes demonstrated worse screened hearing at 36 months, after adjusting for baseline-screened hearing, age, and other relevant variables. These findings suggest that age stereotypes influence older individuals' sensory perception.