PLEASE CONSULT A PHYSICIAN IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING PAIN OR DISCOMFORT OR HAVE HAD A SUDDEN HEARING LOSS.

Causes and symptoms of hearing loss

Most people are usually unaware or in denial of their hearing loss until family and friends point it out — but this is the exact moment to do something about it. Studies show people wait an average of 7 years after noticing the first signs of hearing loss before acting on it. Once someone does make the important investment into hearing aids, they usually say, “I should’ve done this sooner,” realizing that the use of hearing aids would have significantly improved their quality of life sooner had they addressed it when they first noticed they were struggling to hear and understand.

Hearing loss is often gradual and subtle. It can be a part of aging but can also be caused by things like repeated exposure to loud noises. Everyday life puts us in demanding listening environments, such as the workplace, a busy city or noisy restaurant. Many people have also experienced temporary hearing difficulty after attending an extremely loud music event. And in the last few decades, more people have been using headphones and earbuds almost exclusively to listen to music, which can increase the likelihood of hearing damage.

It’s important to note that loss of hearing can be a result of a head injury, disease, infection, trauma, stress, diet. Genetics is also a common culprit.

Common signs of hearing loss include:

• Difficulty following a conversation

• Difficulty understanding what people are saying in loud environments, such as busy restaurants, cafes, shops, etc.

• Other people’s speech seem muffled

• Listening to the TV at a high volume

• Ringing in the ear (tinnitus)

• Group conversations are exhausting

• Saying “huh” or “what” all the time or asking people to repeat themselves

Types of Hearing Loss

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Hearing loss caused by damage to the inner ear or the nerve from the ear to the brain. Sensorineural hearing loss is permanent. In adults, causes include aging and prolonged exposure to loud noise. In children and infants, causes include congenital abnormalities or infections. In this type of hearing loss, higher pitched tones may sound muffled. It may become difficult to pick out words against background noise. Treatment includes hearing aids and assistive devices.

Conductive Hearing Loss

Your ear is made up of three parts— the outer, the middle and the inner ear. A conductive hearing loss happens when sounds cannot get through the outer and middle ear. It may be hard to hear soft sounds. Louder sounds may be muffled. Medicine or surgery can often fix this type of hearing loss.

This type of hearing loss can be caused by the following:

• Fluid in your middle ear from colds or allergies.

• Ear infection, or otitis media. Otitis is a term used to mean ear infection, and media means middle.

• Poor Eustachian tube function. The Eustachian tube connects your middle ear and your nose. Fluid in the middle ear can drain out through this tube. Fluid can stay in the middle ear if the tube does not work correctly.

• A hole in your eardrum.

• Benign tumors. These tumors are not cancer but can block the outer or middle ear.

• Earwax , or cerumen, stuck in your ear canal.

• Infection in the ear canal, called external otitis. You may hear this called swimmer’s ear.

• An object stuck in your outer ear. An example might be if your child put a pebble in his ear when playing outside.

• A problem with how the outer or middle ear is formed. Some people are born without an outer ear. Some may have a deformed ear canal or have a problem with the bones in their middle ear.

Mixed Hearing Loss

Sometimes, a conductive hearing loss happens at the same time as a sensorineural hearing loss, or SNHL. This means that there may be damage in the outer or middle ear and in the inner ear or nerve pathway to the brain. This is a mixed hearing loss.

Consequences of Hearing Loss

Study after study shows that people feel fatigued, unhappy, isolated and depressed if they leave their hearing loss untreated. The ability to concentrate, participate in conversations, self-esteem, and speech comprehension are significantly reduced.