Hearing Loss Overview

Hearing loss is likely more common than you expect

An estimated 48 million, or 15% of the population, have some degree of hearing loss. The third most common chronic medical condition people experience today, hearing loss is a pervasive health concern.

Though it is a prevalent condition, hearing loss tends to be underdiagnosed. It takes an average of 7 years for people to address their hearing health from the time they first start experiencing symptoms. Being able to recognize the signs of hearing loss can help you intervene early. Seeking treatment not only improves hearing but offers countless benefits that can transform daily life.

Types of Hearing Loss

There are three types of hearing loss: sensorineural, conductive, and mixed hearing loss.

Sensorineural: This is the most common type of hearing loss and occurs when the hair cells and/or nerves in the inner ear are damaged. These sensory cells are responsible for converting incoming sound waves into electrical signals that get carried to the brain. The brain then further analyzes these signals, assigning meaning to them which allows us to understand what we hear. Because hair cells in the inner ear do not regenerate and there are no medical interventions to correct or replenish them, the damage is permanent.

Conductive: this type of hearing loss occurs in the outer or middle ear. Conductive hearing loss happens when there is damage or obstructions that prevent sound from traveling through the ear canal and reaching the inner ear. Factors that can cause this type of hearing loss include accumulated earwax, ear infections, perforated eardrum, physical injuries, etc. Conductive hearing loss can often be addressed with medications or surgical options that restore hearing.

Sensorineural hearing loss, accounting for nearly 90% of all hearing loss that is experienced, is permanent while conductive hearing loss is often temporary.

What Causes Hearing Loss?

A range of factors can contribute to the development of hearing loss. Common causes include the following:

Age is the greatest indicator of hearing loss. Also known as presbycusis, age-related hearing loss impacts older adults disproportionately. According to the National Institutes of Health:

1 in 3 adults, ages 65-74 have hearing loss
1 in 3 adults, ages 75 and older have hearing loss

A few factors contribute to this: the gradual accumulation of damage to the auditory system as a result of exposure to loud noise, changes to the ears that can happen over time, and/or existing medical conditions that older adults also experience disproportionately (osteoporosis, hypertension, etc.) which increase the risk of hearing loss.

Other causes of hearing loss include head/neck injuries, inner ear disorders, autoimmune conditions, and chronic ear infections.

Common Hearing Loss Symptoms

Hearing loss reduces the capacity to detect and process sound. This produces a range of symptoms that strain communication. This includes:

Tinnitus: a ringing, buzzing, or clicking-like noise heard in one or both ears
Sound is distorted, muffled, slurred
Increasing the volume on the television or other electronic devices
Asking others to speak louder or repeat something they said
Lip reading to distinguish words

Difficulty identifying individual words, hearing in environments with background noise, having conversations with multiple people
Missing parts of a conversation, having a hard time following along
Feeling exhausted after social interactions and spending time with others

These symptoms can be experienced from mild to severe depending on the degree of impaired hearing. This makes conversations difficult and laborious to engage in which often leads to social withdrawal. If you recognize any of these symptoms, it is important to have your hearing assessed and treated.

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