At almost 6-foot-4, I would consider myself a pretty tall guy. While I used to love having the premier vantage point when navigating large parties, my height is now causing a problem -- I can't hear! At most events, everyone else is speaking at least a foot below my ears and, combined with the background noise, I cannot hear a thing. At 64, my hearing is failing me. But luckily for me -- and the 30 million Americans affected by gradual hearing loss -- there is hope. New research is paving the way for serious breakthroughs in eliminating age-related hearing loss. In a recent study published in the journal Developmental Neuroscience, researchers from Case Western University have isolated stem cells from the middle ear of mice and used them to correct age-related hearing loss in older mice. This is a huge scientific breakthrough that could ultimately affect millions of aging baby boomers. Gradual hearing loss is the third most common chronic illness in America. A third of the population over the age of 60 has difficulty hearing, which increases to 50 percent by age 85. For older patients, loss of hearing can be isolating and interfere with one's ability to remain independent. Most hearing loss in older people is permanent and cannot be corrected medically or surgically. This is typically sensorineural hearing loss, which can be caused by loss of tiny hairs in the middle ear that act as microphones to amplify sound. Not only is sound reduced, but the ability to understand speech is affected. Loud noise, damage to the nerves from the ear to the brain, and a number of medications taken incorrectly can all affect hearing. A less common form of hearing loss, called conductive hearing loss, is caused by reduced conduction of sound through the ear canal to the eardrum and the tiny bones in the middle ear called ossicles. This can result from excessive accumulation of earwax, fluid buildup in the middle ear from colds, ear infections or allergies, a perforated eardrum or even a foreign body. Hearing soft and faint sound becomes difficult, and often only one ear is affected. This condition is correctable either by medical management or surgery.