Hearing loss can affect anyone. Pets, children, and the elderly are especially susceptible to damage over time. While aging naturally leads to some hearing loss, it also brings with it some natural protection. However, exposure to loud noise, certain chemicals, and genetics contribute to hearing loss. It can strike at any age, but it can be devastating when it strikes.
There is no cure for hearing loss. However, depending on your level of hearing loss and your resources, treatments can help you better hear. A hearing aid can help amplify sounds, a cochlear implant can restore some of your hearing, and speech recognition software can help fill in the gaps. You can check out clinical trials for hearing loss at Power if you’re looking for additional treatment options for hearing loss. That would be helpful.
Hearing loss can strike at any age, but it’s more common than ever. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 3.7 million Americans between the ages of 20 and 69 years old have hearing loss. And that number is on the rise. But what are the common causes of hearing loss?
Genetics
Hearing loss can have many causes, including genetics. If you have a family history that raises your risk for hearing loss, it’s important to take steps to lower your risk. Talk to your doctor about ways to reduce your risk, such as getting regular hearing screenings.
Your genes play a role in determining your risk of hearing loss. What you inherit from your parents determines your risk for hearing loss. If your parents or siblings have hearing loss, you are more likely to have hearing loss, too. A family history of hearing loss can be passed down from parents to children through generations.
Age
The most common cause of hearing loss is age, which happens to most of us as we age. Because hearing loss is often gradual, you may not realize how much your hearing has changed until you’re asked to repeat something or have difficulty following a conversation.
Hearing loss can affect anyone at any age. Over time, hearing loss is progressive, meaning we lose more of our hearing capacity as we age. This is largely due to aging, but other factors, including loud noise, can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss.
Hearing loss is one of the most common medical issues affecting seniors today. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, roughly one in three people over age 65 experience some degree of hearing loss, and that number is expected to increase to 50% by 2050.
Ototoxicity
Hearing loss is a common condition among older adults, and certain medications and substances can lead to hearing loss.
Periodic exposure to certain drugs and medications, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and diuretics, can set you up for the permanent hearing loss. Even small amounts of these drugs can damage your inner ear hair cells, and it’s irreversible once the damage is done.
Other substances, such as alcohol, can lead to temporary (and even permanent) hearing loss. Even extremely small amounts of alcohol can cause temporary hearing loss. Spending too much time in a noisy environment (like a nightclub or bar) or listening to loud noises (like lawn mowers and amplified music) can lead to permanent hearing loss
Virus or Disease
Hearing loss can be serious, so it’s important to know the causes and how to prevent it. Viruses or diseases cause most cases of hearing loss. Some of the most common are:
- Hearing loss is caused by an infection, like measles, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), and mumps.
- Hearing loss caused by cancer.
- An illness causes hearing loss.
- Hearing loss is caused by exposure to loud noises.
- Congenital disabilities may cause some hearing problems.
Noise Exposure
Noise exposure is a common cause of hearing loss. Hearing loss can be temporary or permanent, and it will affect a person’s ability to communicate with others and understand their speech.
Noise-induced hearing loss occurs when noise causes damage to your hearing, which can eventually result in permanent hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss is considered preventable since, although the noise itself can’t be stopped, there are some things you can do to protect your hearing.
Noise exposure is one of the most common causes of hearing loss, and a lot of people don’t realize how the volume on their TV or music can adversely affect their hearing.
Head Trauma and Tumors
Hearing loss is a widespread problem, and research continues to show a variety of sources for the problem. One of the most common causes of hearing loss is damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve, which can be caused by a number of things. Trauma to the head, such as a concussion, can lead to hearing loss, as can tumors or obstructions in the ear.