Our ability to hear and understand sounds around us depends on the inner ear (the cochlea) converting sounds to electrical signals that are then interpreted by the brain. As we age, structures in the inner ear needed for the processing of sound can begin to break down from the effects of aging, noise exposure and other causes. This process leads to “age-related hearing loss” which is reflected in a reduced ability to hear clearly as sounds in the inner ear are no longer converted precisely into neural signals for the brain. Spoken words may often, therefore, sound garbled or as if the speaker is mumbling—hence leading to the common complaint of “I can hear you but can’t understand you.”