Final answer:
Presbycusis is the correct term for decreased hearing ability due to vascular and neural degeneration in the inner ear as a result of aging. It falls under the category of sensorineural hearing loss, which is not typically treatable with traditional hearing aids but may be treated with cochlear implants. Option C.
Step-by-step explanation:
The condition described in the question, which is a vascular and neural degeneration of the inner ear leading to decreased hearing ability as one ages, is called Presbycusis. Sensorineural hearing loss is a common form of hearing loss that may occur due to several factors including aging, head or acoustic trauma, infections.
When sensorineural hearing loss is a result of aging, it is specifically known as Presbycusis.
This condition is due to the degeneration of inner ear structures and cannot be treated with traditional hearing aids, though some individuals may be candidates for cochlear implants, which are electronic devices designed to stimulate the auditory nerve directly and provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing.
Options such as Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS) and Permanent Threshold Shift (PTS) are typically associated with hearing loss due to short-term or long-term noise exposure.
Conductive hearing loss, on the other hand, results from problems with conducting sound vibrations to the cochlea and can be treated with hearing aids that send sound vibrations through the skull to compensate for the damage in the middle ear. So Option C is correct.