What causes hearing loss?

By Dr. Sheri Weiner
May 1st, 2009

One of the most common causes for hearing loss is exposure to loud noise. We live in a noisy world, work around noise in many cases and listen to loud music. Noise-induced hearing loss can be gradual and is especially risky when listening to loud sound without wearing properly fitted hearing protectors. It can also be suddenly caused by one exposure to a loud sound. For instance, I knew one gentleman that had shot guns for years without wearing hearing protection. Then, while hunting, he fired his rifle once and lost all of the hearing in one ear. There is a simple (and often inexpensive) way to protect yourself from this type of hearing loss… hearing protectors.

Another very common cause of hearing loss is age. There are natural changes in the inner ear and the hearing nerves as we age. This type of hearing loss is gradual. It often takes years for a person with this type of hearing loss to notice it.

While age-related and noise-induced types of hearing loss are permanent, there are some other causes of hearing loss that can be medically treated. For instance, earwax buildup, ear infections, injury to the head or ear, and otosclerosis (calcification of the bones in the middle ear) are commonly treated by medical doctors.

As you can see there are many causes of hearing loss. While some causes are easily diagnosed and treated, it is often difficult to narrow any one person’s permanent hearing loss down to one cause. In fact, it is not unusual for two or more of the above mentioned causes to be present. That is why audiologists are often left playing investigator when trying to determine the causes of a person’s hearing loss.