What are the Most Common Causes of Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss can occur at any stage in life. But you'd be surprised just how many causes and signs of hearing loss there are. It's not just a consequence of aging - though that is a part of it. It is also the result of numerous other factors, some of which cause hearing loss directly, and others that increase your risk.
Damage to the inner ear due to aging
The primary cause of sensorineural hearing loss is the aging process. As people get older, the cells in their ears become less able to do their job, and the machinery's ability to pick up sounds declines. Commonly, the tiny sensing hairs in the inner ear grow sparser and less responsive. Consequently, they pass on weaker signals to the auditory nerve for processing in the brain. If electrical signals are missing, the ear cannot communicate accurately, and the subjective quality of a person's sound environment goes down.
Ruptured eardrum
A ruptured eardrum can cause hearing loss at any age. Mostly, it is the result of loud noise or sudden change in pressure. Energetic sound waves reach the delicate material that comprises the drum and exceeds its tolerance. The drum then perforates, rendering it unable to transmit sound information as efficiently to the inner ear.
People also rupture their eardrums by poking in their ear. For instance, somebody might try using a cotton swab to remove excess wax and accidentally push it in too far, causing damage.
You can also experience a ruptured eardrum through infection or external trauma. When the eardrum fails, everything sounds muted or muffled, and you experience prolonged earache.
Ear infection
Ear infections occur when the ear's natural defenses fail, and microorganisms temporarily gain a foothold. When they do, they can cause swelling and damage to the sound-sensing tissue. This process then impacts your subjective sense of hearing, reducing fidelity.
Tumors and growth
Tumors and growths operate via a similar mechanism to reduce the quality of hearing except this time; there are no microbes involved. Instead, the body begins to grow in detrimental ways, and these can affect the structures in the ear. Most tumors affect the outer and middle ear, though they can impact deeper.
Buildup of earwax
Earwax is a sticky substance the ear uses to trap and remove incoming dust and dirt particles. The walls of the ear canal secrete it periodically. Tiny hairs and movement then move it slowly towards the outer ear where it dries and flakes off.
Sometimes, though, this process can go awry, and earwax builds up to the point where it blocks the ear canal. Some people produce a lot of the substance naturally and must be vigilant to ensure that their ears drain properly. Others experience excess earwax from wearing earbuds or hearing aids in their ears. These devices can prevent the wax from flowing out of the ear naturally, causing it to accumulate in the ear canal.
Flowing earwax rarely causes hearing loss, even if there is a lot of it. Issues arise, however, when it becomes impacted. Over time, earwax can become compressed and harden in a shell over the eardrum. This barrier then blocks incoming sounds and prevents efficient transmission to the eardrum.
Listening to loud sounds or music
Aging isn't the only factor that can damage the structures in the ear over time. So too can listening to loud music or sounds.
DJs, airport baggage handlers, and construction workers are all at increased risk of hearing loss. Their occupations expose them to high-energy sound waves that damage the hairs in the ear and degrade them. Experts recommend people who fall into this category wear hearing protection, such as earmuffs or plugs.
Medications and treatments
The inner ear is a delicate and complex structure that the body carefully regulates throughout your life. It only works when kept in optimum condition.
Some drugs and medical treatments, however, can throw it out of whack and cause issues.
Researchers, for instance, now know that the antibiotic gentamicin can harm the capacity to hear. Similarly, Viagra may also affect your sound sensing organs. And various chemotherapy drugs can cause additional damage.
High fever
Finally, you may experience hearing loss after a high fever. Some diseases such as meningitis damage the cochlear and prevent it from doing its regular job.
If you're concerned about hearing loss and want to find out more about the condition, get in touch with our friendly team at Your Hearing Connection. Call 626-538-9920 to schedule an appointment today.