Deafness is typically the results of internal ear or nerve damage. it's going to be caused by a birth defect , injury, disease, certain medication, exposure to bang or age-related wear and tear. The chief symptom is an inability to listen to sound. For some, hearing could also be possible with surgery or a hearing device. Lip-reading skills, written or printed text and signing may help with communication. deafness that happens gradually as you age (presbycusis) is common. About one-third of individuals within the us between the ages of 65 and 75 have a point of deafness . For those older than 75, that number is approximately 1 in 2. Aging and chronic exposure to loud noises both contribute to deafness . Other factors, like excessive earwax, can temporarily reduce how well your ears conduct sounds. you cannot reverse most sorts of deafness . However, you and your doctor or a hearing specialist can take steps to enhance what you hear. Your ear consists of three major areas: external ear , tympanic cavity and internal ear . Sound waves undergo the external ear and cause vibrations at the eardrum. The eardrum and three small bones of the center ear amplify the vibrations as they visit the internal ear . There, the vibrations undergo fluid during a snail-shaped structure within the internal ear (cochlea). Attached to nerve cells within the cochlea are thousands of small hairs that help translate sound vibrations into electrical signals that are transmitted to your brain. Your brain turns these signals into sound. Aging and exposure to bang may cause wear and tear on the hairs or nerve cells within the cochlea that send sound signals to the brain. When these hairs or nerve cells are damaged or missing, electrical signals aren't transmitted as efficiently, and deafness occurs. Higher pitched tones may become muffled to you. it's going to become difficult for you to select out words against ground noise . deafness can have a big effect on your quality of life. Older adults with deafness may report feelings of depression. Because deafness can make conversation difficult, some people experience feelings of isolation. deafness is additionally related to cognitive impairment and decline.