What Causes Hearing Loss

Hearing loss can turn music into indistinct hum and conversations into whispers. Hearing loss can be categorized into three levels:

  • Ø Conductive – The ear is made of the outer, middle, and inner parts. When you have conductive hearing loss, the sounds will not reach the outer and middle parts of the ear. Louder sounds will become muffled, and hearing soft sounds will be hard. Luckily, surgery or medicine can fix this condition.
  • Ø Sensorineural – This can happen when your inner ear gets damaged. This type of hearing loss can make louder sounds unclear. However, surgery or medicine sometimes fail to fix this problem. Fortunately, you can invest in BC hearing aids to help you hear. Sensorineural hearing loss can be caused by the aging factor, genetics, illness, or listening to explosions or loud noise.
  • Ø Mixed Hearing Loss – This is a combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. It means the three parts of the ear are damaged. It will make your hearing worse.

Here are common causes of hearing loss;

  1. Aging

Presbycusis (age-related hearing loss) occurs as we grow old. It’s estimated that about one-third of the American population aged between 65 and 74 experience hearing loss. Seniors above 75 are severely affected. This makes it hard for the elderly to respond to warnings, hear doorbells and phones or other warning alarms. It can make it hard for seniors to enjoy a talk with family or friends, making them feel isolated and lonely.

  1. Loud Noise

Noise can damage nerves, hair cells, or membranes of the ear parts leading to permanent or temporary hearing problems. It can be devastating when the ear gets damaged beyond repair. Loud noise is harmful to the cochlea. Listening to deafening music or getting exposed to explosions can cause hearing loss. An average human being has approximately 16,000 hair cells in the ear. These cells help the brain to detect sound, and once they get destroyed, a hearing loss happens.

  1. Injury or Illness

There are several diseases that affect the blood supply to your ear. They include vascular diseases, heart disease, or hypertension. Traumatic brain injury can lead to lifelong suffering effects like hearing loss. TBI affects both the young and old. A concussion can be caused by a jolt, bump, or a blow to the head. It can lead to bruising of the brain, and to some extent, hemorrhaging of the brain can occur.

Although concussion is treatable, it might cause dizziness, tinnitus, and hearing loss.

  1. Medications

Medications can impair balance or hearing- particularly drugs used in treating cancer, serious infections, or heart disease. Over 200 medicines have a track record of causing hearing loss. They include:

  • Ø Malaria administering drug
  • Ø Aspirin
  • Ø Chemotherapy drugs (not all)
  • Ø Erectile dysfunction drugs
  • Ø Some antibiotics
  1. Earwax Buildup

Apparently, it’s one of the harmless causes of hearing impairment. It happens when earwax blocks sound from reaching the eardrum. You only need the help of a professional and restore your hearing.

If you notice hearing loss signs and symptoms, seek medical attention from professionals.

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Libby Austin

Libby Austin, the creative force behind alltheragefaces.com, is a dynamic and versatile writer known for her engaging and informative articles across various genres. With a flair for captivating storytelling, Libby's work resonates with a diverse audience, blending expertise with a relatable voice.
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