What causes hearing loss

Causes of hearing loss

Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis)
This is the normal hearing loss that happens to many people as they grow older, because some of the sensory hair cells in the cochlea lose some of their functionality. They become stiffer, which prevents them responding to incoming sound, and they become more brittle, which causes them to break.

Noise-induced hearing loss
Loud noises can cause irreparable damage to your ears, resulting temporary or permanent hearing loss. Causes of noise-induced hearing loss include live music concerts, listening to headphones with the volume too loud, working in noisy places such as construction sites, cafés, and even childcare.

Disease
Viral infections can cause sudden hearing loss by affecting the tissues of the hearing system. If the affected person seeks medical advice quickly, such sudden hearing loss needn’t be permanent. In addition, diabetes, obesity, smoking, and high blood pressure all increase the likelihood of acquiring hearing loss.

Genetics
Hearing loss can be hereditary, meaning it runs in people’s families. This can take different forms and can be present at birth (congenital hearing loss) due to ear malformations and other disorders including Waardenburg syndrome and Usher syndrome. Hereditary hearing loss can also appear later in life.

Head trauma
Any accident which involves a blow to the head can cause head trauma, such as a car accident, a bike accident, or falling over. Head trauma typically causes permanent hearing loss. Hearing loss resulting from head trauma  can cause conductive hearing loss, where damage to the ear prevents sound from being effectively transmitted to the inner ear.

Acoustic trauma
Excessively loud sounds such as explosions can cause acoustic trauma, which is when the structure of the inner ear is damaged by the force of the sound waves. This can be damage to the eardrum, which prevents sound being effectively conducted into the inner ear.

What causes sudden hearing loss?

Most cases of sudden hearing loss fall under the type of hearing loss called sensorineural hearing loss. If you experience sudden hearing loss, it is crucial to seek treatment from a medical professional right away. Doing this within two to three days of the onset of sudden hearing loss gives you a better chance of recovering most of your hearing.

Sudden hearing loss can also result from a clear event such as a viral infection, head or acoustic trauma, or a disease.

What problems can hearing loss cause?

Hearing loss makes communication with others difficult, causing people to feel disengaged in social settings, which can lead to them experiencing loneliness or isolation.

If you have hearing loss, the sooner you find out, the more effectively you can act. Taking action helps you engage with other people and the world, so you can get the best out of life.

Living with hearing loss