Hearing loss is a relatively common health condition, and there are many things that are known to cause hearing loss or affect hearing health. If you’ve noticed signs of hearing loss but are unsure as to what may have caused the problem, here are some possibilities.
Common Causes
Here are some of the more common ways people may experience hearing difficulties. There are, of course, many more, as hearing loss and health are complex; however, this is a starting point on potential causes.
Aging
The natural process of aging will see many parts of your body age and change, from graying hair to sore knees to hearing loss. Age-related hearing loss, known as presbycusis, is virtually ubiquitous among older adults, affecting an estimated 65% of adults 71 and older and 96% of adults 90 and older. This occurs when the sensory cells in the inner ear, which are crucial for transmitting sound information to the brain, age and deteriorate.
Loud Noise
Exposure to loud noise is the second-most common cause of hearing loss—right behind presbycusis—and it’s on the rise, especially amongst younger adults. Powerful sound waves roar through the delicate structures of the inner ear, flattening and breaking the sensory cells mentioned previously, which leads to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). NIHL can be temporary, but it often causes permanent damage. It can also be accompanied by tinnitus.
Earwax Buildup
Your ears naturally shed earwax when it becomes too old, but sometimes it can accumulate over time, preventing sound waves from reaching the inner ear. Earwax compaction is more likely to happen if you insert objects, such as your finger or a cotton swab, into your ear; these instruments can push earwax deeper into the ear canal and squish it together, forming the blockage. Removing the blockage should return hearing to normal.
Injury to the Eardrum
A hole or tear in your eardrum is known as a ruptured or perforated eardrum. The eardrum plays a vital role in hearing by amplifying sound waves into the middle ear. If it is damaged, it cannot perform properly. A perforated eardrum will usually heal on its own, but in extreme cases, patches or surgical repair procedures are available.
Genetics
There are many genetic conditions that could lead to hearing loss. In these cases, hearing loss may present before birth, after birth or later in childhood. These include being born to a parent or parents with hearing loss, congenital conditions that affected how the baby’s middle or outer ears developed in utero, congenital infections (such as CMV), otosclerosis, some syndromes and chromosomal mutations. More than 90% of children born with hearing loss have hearing parents, so parents’ hearing ability is not the only factor in genetic hearing loss.
Other Health Conditions
Our bodies are complex networks; our organs and systems all affect each other. Many health conditions are known to be correlated with hearing loss. Some of these include:
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure, or hypertension
- Diabetes
- Ear infections
- Some autoimmune diseases
- Meningitis
- Brain injury or trauma
- Tumors
Seeking Medical Attention
If you’ve noticed any change in your hearing ability or have felt any symptoms of hearing loss, it’s a good idea to consult with an audiologist as soon as possible. Contact Wilmington Audiology Services today for a hearing evaluation and consultation. We may be able to determine the root cause of your symptoms.