
These are the most common risk factors, but there are some surprising risk factors, too. The more of these risk factors you have, the more likely you will experience hearing loss.
Having a close family relative with hearing loss, or a family history of genetic disorders with hearing loss. Frequent exposure to excessive noise, such as from loud machinery or gunfire. Being over 60 years old, when age-related hearing loss is more likely to occur. Hearing loss risk factorsĪny of the following scenarios increase your risk of developing gradual hearing loss: There are many causes of hearing loss, and it's important to figure out what is causing the hearing loss to determine the right treatment. Mixed hearing loss is when a person has both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. It can be permanent, but more often it is temporary and can be medically treated. Conductive hearing loss is caused by a mechanical problem in the outer or middle ear or an obstruction in the ear canal, such as earwax that blocks sound from getting to the eardrum. Sensorineural hearing loss can often result in difficulty understanding sound or speech even though it is loud enough to hear. Most adults with hearing loss have a sensorineural loss. The auditory nerve carries important information about the loudness, pitch and meaning of sounds to the brain. It is permanent and caused by many different conditions that damage tiny hair-like cells in the inner ear or the auditory nerve known as cilia. Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of hearing loss. There are three main types of hearing loss: Understand conversations in noisy places. Types of hearing loss Hearing loss can make it a struggle to Tinnitus, or ringing and/or buzzing sounds in the ears. Increased difficulty communicating in noisy situations like restaurants, lively family gatherings, in the car or in group meetings. A sense of exhaustion after a day of listening to other people, known as listening fatigue.
Avoidance of social situations that were once enjoyable.You no longer hear birdsong, or hear it rarely.A feeling of being able to hear but not understand.Difficulty understanding everyday conversation.
In general, people who have hearing loss may experience any or all of the following: Higher-pitched sounds, such as women's voices and birds chirping, may be harder to hear. The symptoms of hearing loss can vary depending on the type of hearing loss, the cause of hearing loss, and the degree of loss.įor people with age-related hearing loss, it's typical to experience what's known as high-frequency hearing loss. Getting help for hearing loss begins with a By learning more about the symptoms, types, causes, tests, treatments and prevention of hearing loss, it is easier to understand how it impacts you or your loved one-and what you can do about it. Hearing loss is usually incurable but treatable.
About 20% of men and 13% of women report they have at least some trouble hearing. adults have hearing loss, making it twice as common as diabetes or cancer. How common is it? Statistics show that about 16% of U.S. Hearing loss in older adults is known medically as presbycusis. There are many causes, and it can affect anyone at any age, but it's most common in people older than 60. Hearing loss is the partial or complete loss of hearing in one or both ears, ranging from mild to profound.