Cognitive and Physical Changes Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cognitive and Physical Changes - Research Paper Example The two primary physical changes that a person faces in the middle adulthood are weakness in sight and sound. Firstly, in the beginning of this phase visual acuity, which is the ability to detect fine details in both close and distant objects, begins to decline (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2009). The reason for it is given by the change in shape and elasticity of eye lenses. Lenses become less transparent which mitigates the amount of light entering in it. Moreover, a decline also occurs in depth and distance perception which is the ability to see the world in three dimensions and in dark. The second impairment occurs in hearing sense. The primary loss is for the sound of high frequency which is popularly known as ‘presbycusis’ (Willis & Martin, 2005). It usually happens that one of the ears is impaired more than the other which reduces sound localization. Sound localization is the ability to detect the origin of the sound. The reason for this harm is loss of hair cells in the inner ear. Moreover, the ear drum becomes less elastic with age. Physical changes are accompanied by cognitive changes as well. Cognitive ability of a person is the intelligence that a person posses. It can be segmented into two types namely, fluid and crystallized. Fluid intelligence which is the ability to process new concepts and facts quickly and innovatively, independent of prior education, peaks during adolescence and then gradually declines between the ages of 30 to 40. Second change occurs in the crystallized intelligence. It is the bulk of information, skills and strategies that people have obtained through education and use of fluid intelligence. This intelligence increases with age. Facts like mathematical formulas, vocabulary knowledge and dates of various events are easier to remember. Although people score high in young adulthood as compared to middle