At a relatively young and handsome forty, I can hear a faint ringing in my ears if I'm in an absolutely quiet environment. I have noticed I find it harder to follow conversations if I'm in a noisy environment, such as a bar. Women, especially, are hard to understand (I know, I know...
).
Loud headphones, shooting with no hearing protection (when I was a kid no one wore earplugs or muffs, you just didn't), concerts, etc. - it all adds up.
Protect your ears - it sucks meeting a girl in a bar and having to ask her to repeat everything like an old man.