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Why do old people have selective hearing? Understanding the real reasons

It is a common misconception that selective hearing is a deliberate act of ignoring someone, but in reality, it is a complex phenomenon tied to age-related changes in the auditory system and brain. The term "selective hearing" is often jokingly used to describe someone who only hears what they want, but the reality for older individuals is often an unintentional difficulty in processing complex sound environments, a condition medically known as presbycusis.