What Causes Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss is a health problem that can occur in one ear or both. Likewise, it can take many forms, including conductive and sensorineural. When your hearing deteriorates, early detection is vital if you want the audiologist to find the best possible solution. However, understanding the reasons for those problems is equally crucial.

Why is your hearing fading?

No two people are the same, and every case of hearing loss is unique. A number of factors need to be considered, but there are several potential causes of hearing loss that you should know about. The list includes:

• A buildup of earwax that needs to be cleaned by an audiologist.
• An untreated infection that has damaged the canal or the auditory nerve system.
• Continued exposure to loud noises. This could come from working on a construction site, spending a lot of time playing music, or various other situations.
• Side effects of other health issues, such as oral conditions.
• Physical head trauma caused by workplace or sporting injuries.
• Aging-related conditions such as presbycusis. This is a type of sensorineural hearing loss where sounds become hard to detect, especially when there is background noise.
• Flu and other minor illnesses that cause a temporary hearing loss in the outer parts of the ear.
• Medications. Even when treating health issues that are not related to the ears, side effects can sometimes lead to hearing loss. Some antibiotics are fairly common culprits.
• Trapped liquid, often water. This is common for swimmers and is even called swimmer’s ear.
• Conductive middle ear problems like otosclerosis.This is where the tiny bones within the ear don’t move and struggle to transmit the sounds.
• Autoimmune inner ear diseases where the body attacks its hearing systems for a rapid loss.
• Meniere’s disease and other inner ear problems. This may manifest itself in bouts of temporary hearing loss and can encourage dizziness too.
• Other medical conditions, ranging from minor ones to serious problems.

These are simply some of the more common sources to consider. In truth, the extended list of potential causes is virtually endless.

Can you influence the odds of suffering lost hearing?

To an extent. An audiologist can provide some tips, such as how to protect the ears in loud environments. Meanwhile, ideas like leading a healthy life can be helpful too. However, there is no magic spell for immunity against potential hearing loss.

Moreover, it’s worth noting that hearing issues can impact anyone and strike at any time. Some causes are linked primarily to people of a certain age, working background, or life situation. Nonetheless, hearing loss can hit anyone. Therefore, if you’ve spotted the signs of a potential problem, it’s vital that you take quick action. Getting tested is the first step.

The right treatment for your hearing loss will depend on a number of factors. However, the cause of your problems will always be one of the most significant factors. This is why you must consider finding the source to be a priority. Otherwise, there’s a strong chance that you’ll see a very limited improvement from your treatment.