Paracusis musicalis: Insights on age-related absolute pitch decline

Paracusis musicalis (PM) is a condition in which individuals with absolute pitch (AP) experience a decline in their AP abilities with age. Although PM has been known to the scientific community for decades, its literary presence is sparse. The aim of the present study is to conduct the first appraisal of the corpus of PM literature, draw preliminary conclusions, and identify areas for future contributions. A structured review across nine electronic databases yielded seven publications meeting eligibility criteria. Common PM features identified across studies included a gradual disruption of pitch stability with aging, greater pitch accuracy for central octaves, and better performance with piano timbres. Variability was observed in the direction of pitch distortions (sharp, flat, or mixed). Onset was typically reported between the fourth to fifth decades of life. The reviewed publications include cross-sectional observational studies, retrospective single-case reports, longitudinal case series, and theoretical accounts, collectively emphasizing the need for more systematic, large-scale empirical research. This article highlights conceptual and methodological gaps and proposes avenues for advancing understanding of PM and its broader implications for auditory aging.