4 FAQs About Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is not something we give a lot of thought to until it happens to us or someone we love. When it does, we typically have several different questions and concerns. The trouble is that the Internet is filled with a lot of information that is inaccurate, and this can result in people believing things about their health that is not necessarily true.

1. What are the common reasons for suffering from hearing loss?

There are many different causes of hearing loss. A lot of people assume that hearing loss occurs because of getting older. While this can attribute to it, there are lots of other factors that can have an impact. For example, exposure to loud noise is a common cause of both tinnitus and hearing loss. People also suffer hearing loss because of a reaction to drugs, especially those used in cancer treatment, as well as genetics, birth defects and infections.

2. Are there different types of hearing loss?

Yes, there are two main types of hearing loss: conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss. The latter is the most common, which happens when the nerves of the inner ear are damaged and, therefore, do not transmit sound signals to the brain properly. Conductive hearing loss occurs because of an obstruction. Some people experience a mixture of the two. Let’s take a look at the common causes for both of these types of hearing loss:

Common causes of conductive hearing loss are usually obstructions, for example:

• Abnormal tumors or growths
• Otosclerosis
• Foreign object in the ear canal
• Dislocation of the middle ear bones
• Wax buildup
• Scarring or perforation of the eardrum
• Infections of the middle ear or the ear canal, which result in pus or fluid buildup

Common causes of sensorineural hearing loss include:

• Hypertension
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Heredity
• Acoustic tumors
• Meniere’s disease
• Elevated body temperature or high fever
• Ototoxic drugs
• Excessive noise exposure
• Injury
• Aging

3. How can I tell if I have hearing loss?

To help determine whether you have hearing loss, there are some questions to ask yourself:

• Does it sound like others are slurring or mumbling their words?
• Do you experience buzzing or ringing in your ears?
• Do you prefer the radio or TV louder than others?
• Do you have a hard time hearing children or women?
• Do you struggle to hear in crowded places?
• Do you have trouble hearing unless you are facing the speaker?
• Do you have difficulty following conversations with more than two people?
• Do you often ask people to repeat themselves?

4. Are there medications or operations for hearing loss?

Surgery can only improve hearing loss in around five percent of the population. Hearing aids are the most effective approach, as any audiologist will testify.

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of hearing loss, as well as some of the different ways you can recognize hearing loss if you believe that you may be suffering from this condition.