Presbycusis

            The gradual loss of hearing that occurs as you age (presbycusis) is a common condition. An estimated one-third of Americans older than age 65 and one-half of those older than age 75 have a hearing impairment. .
             Over time, the wear and tear of noise contributes to hearing loss by damaging the cochlea, a part of your inner ear. Doctors believe that heredity and chronic exposure to loud noises contribute to hearing loss. Other factors, such as wax blockage, can prevent your ears from conducting sounds as well as they could.
             You can't reverse damage to your inner ear. However, you don't have to live in a world of softer, less distinct sounds. Steps you and your doctor can take can improve what you hear.
             Signs and Symptoms .
             Signs and symptoms of hearing loss may include:.
             Muffled quality of speech and other sounds .
             Difficulty understanding words, especially against background noise or in a crowd of people .
             Asking others to speak more slowly, clearly and loudly .
             The need to turn up the volume of the television or radio .
             Withdrawal from conversations .
             Avoidance of some social settings .
             Most hearing loss results from damage to the cochlea, a snail-shaped structure in your inner ear. Attached to nerve cells in the cochlea are thousands of tiny hairs that help convert sound vibrations into electrical signals that are transmitted to your brain.
             Hairs may break or become bent, and nerve cells may degenerate. When the nerve cells or the hairs are damaged or missing, electrical signals aren't transmitted as efficiently, and hearing loss occurs. Higher pitched tones may become muffled to you. It may become difficult for you to pick out words against background noise.
             Factors that may damage or lead to loss of the hairs in your inner ear include:.
             Aging . The normal wear and tear of sounds over the years can damage your inner ear's cells. .
             Loud noises . Occupational noise, such as construction work or a loud office, and recreational noise, such as loud music, the engine of a snowmobile or motorcycle, or shooting firearms, can contribute to the damage inside your ear.