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 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

· 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

· Heredity . Your genetic makeup may make you more susceptible to ear damage.

· Ask your doctor for a referral to an audiologist who can perform a comprehensive hearing evaluation in a soundproof room, where you will wear earphones and respond to various sounds. The audiologist can test the degree of hearing, the kind of hearing loss, and the ability to understand speech in different settings.

For some people, hearing loss may result from a gradual buildup of hard wax that blocks the ear canal and prevents conduction of sound waves. Wax blockage is one of the most common causes of hearing loss among people of all ages.

· Face the person with whom you're having a conversation.

These steps can help you prevent noise-induced hearing loss:

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