Jack, thanks for the links you just posted. Interesting!

As for the 83-year-old with one hand over an ear, you will sometimes see me doing that. For some reason, my right ear is supersensitive, and when there's a loud noise, my right hand flies up to cover it.
By the age of 83, that man may have the same kind of problem.   

By the way, there are too many times when both my hands fly up to cover both ears.