What causes hearing loss?

Did you know that hearing loss is the third most common health condition people live with today? Nearly 1 in 5 people have some degree of impaired hearing. Hearing loss is twice as common as diabetes or cancer and impacts over 48 million people. This medical condition reduces the capacity to hear and process sounds and speech, which takes a toll on vital communication. Consequently, there are multifaceted effects, including impacted relationships, work life, social engagement, and overall health. You can protect and prioritize your hearing health by understanding what causes hearing impairment. A few of the most common causes of hearing loss include the following:

Aging

Age is the greatest indicator of hearing loss. The risk of developing hearing loss increases with age – according to the  National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD): 

  • 1 in 3 adults, ages 65-74, have some degree of hearing loss
  • 1 in 2 adults, ages 75 and older, have disabling hearing loss.

Also known as presbycusis, age-related hearing loss can be caused by a few factors. They include changes to the ears that may happen over time, the cumulative toll of loud noise exposure on the auditory system, and existing medical conditions that also impact older adults disproportionately and are linked to hearing loss, like diabetes and heart disease.

Loud Noise

Another common cause of hearing loss is exposure to loud noise. This can happen only after just one exposure or can be a cumulative loss after many exposures. Noise-induced hearing loss occurs when loud noise damages sensory cells in the inner ear. There are thousands of sensory cells in the inner ear which play a crucial role in how sound is absorbed and processed. They convert incoming sound waves into neural signals, which get carried to the brain. Thus the brain is then able to further process these signals, including assigning meaning to them which allows us to understand what we hear. Loud noise can desensitize and weaken these cells, reducing their capacity to effectively and efficiently process soundwaves.

Medical Conditions

Substantial research shows that there are a number of medical conditions that can increase the risk of hearing loss. Studies highlight conditions including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, and more. These conditions can affect blood vessels and restrict blood flow. So these affect the inner ear, which is where sound is processed. Osteoporosis is a condition that affects bone health which can include the bones in the ear. This impacts how sound is absorbed and processed, contributing to hearing loss.

Specific Medical Causes

  • Head Injuries: over 3 million head injuries occur every year. Head injuries involve serious force to the head/neck area, which can have various effects. Head injuries can damage components of the auditory system – sensory cells, eardrums, ossicles bones, auditory pathways etc. These components are integral to the processing of soundwaves, so any damage to them can disrupt this process. Head injuries can also affect the areas of the brain that are responsible for processing auditory information.
  • Inner Ear Disorders: there are different types of inner ear disorders that can also contribute to hearing loss, including Meniere’s disease. This inner ear disorder involves an accumulation of fluid in the inner ear which can produce pain, dizziness, pressure, tinnitus, and also hearing loss.

Other causes of hearing loss include autoimmune conditions, chronic ear infections, and ototoxic medications. It is important to get your hearing evaluated regularly to ensure it is being tracked appropriately.

Prioritize Your Hearing Health Today

There are important ways you can prioritize and protect your hearing health. This includes getting your hearing tested regularly. Hearing tests involve a painless and noninvasive process that measures hearing capacities in both ears. This identifies any hearing loss and the degree of impairment in each ear. Even if you do not have any hearing loss, getting your hearing tested regularly allows you to track your hearing health. This allows you to identify any changes you may experience over time and intervene early.

Learn more about getting your hearing tested here.

Contact Stanford Hearing Aids today to schedule an appointment for a hearing consultation! We look forward to supporting you and prioritizing your hearing health and wellness.