About 11.5 million Americans, or 3.5% of the US population, have some kind of hearing impairment. But how does the Deaf experience change from person to person?
Hearing loss or Deafness range from difficulty understanding speech to profound hearing loss, otherwise known as Deafness. Unique types of hearing loss can have multiple causes, but some may have no known cause at all.
In this article, the Ability Central team breaks down the types, symptoms, and causes of hearing loss. We answer your most pressing questions about Deafness, including:
What are the three types of hearing loss, and what are the symptoms of each?
What are some signs I might be losing my hearing?
What causes Deafness?
When is hearing loss considered Deafness?
When should a person see a doctor about hearing loss or Deafness?
Where can I get more information about hearing loss and Deafness?
What are the three types of hearing loss, and what are the symptoms of each?
The three types of hearing loss are:
Sensorineural
Conductive
Mixed hearing loss
Sensorineural hearing loss
Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) occurs when nerves in the inner ear become permanently damaged, limiting how well they transmit sound signals to the brain. Often associated with aging, this type of hearing loss cannot be reversed and can lead to permanent Deafness with time.
Symptoms of sensorineural hearing loss include:
Feeling like people are mumbling when they speak
Hearing when people talk, but not understanding their words
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Dizziness
Trouble focusing on single sounds in noisy environments
Sudden Deafness, or sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL), is a rapid loss of hearing that affects around 4,000 Americans per year.
This type of sensorineural hearing loss can:
Happen all at once or rapidly across up to three days.
Affect only one ear. Nearly 90% of people with SSHL have rapid hearing loss in one ear but not the other.
Affect anyone, but is most common for people ages 30 to 60.
Conductive hearing loss
Someone with conductive hearing loss has an issue in the outer or middle ear that blocks signals from reaching the cochlea, the part of the inner ear that processes sound signals. When this happens, sounds and voices become faint or muffled.
Symptoms of conductive hearing loss include:
Hearing loss that comes on suddenly
Muffled voices
A “stuffed up” or “full” feeling in the ears
Ear pain, sensitivity, or tenderness
Fluid draining from the ears
Dizziness
Conductive hearing loss can be temporary or permanent. Medical or surgical interventions like cochlear implants, hearing aids, or treatments for underlying conditions can help conductive hearing loss symptoms.
Mixed hearing loss
Mixed hearing loss involves a combination of both types. Usually, mixed hearing loss is gradual, and someone might not notice their symptoms at first.
Symptoms of mixed hearing loss include:
Hearing problems noticed by family or friends before you do
Not hearing sounds like a ringing phone or doorbell
Frequently asking people to repeat themselves
Fatigue
Avoidance of social situations, especially in noisy environments
Staring at people while they talk to make it easier to understand their speech
What are some signs I might be losing my hearing?
Some of the most common signs of hearing loss are:
Difficulty recognizing consonants
Trouble understanding words, particularly in crowds or noisy environments
Muffled sounds, especially speech
Asking people to repeat themselves or speak louder, slower, or clearer
Turning up the volume and using subtitles when watching TV or listening to audio
Not taking part in conversations
Avoiding social situations due to fear of not understanding others
To learn more about the signs of hearing loss, see Signs of Hearing Loss.
What causes Deafness?
Deafness and hearing loss share many risk factors. These include:
Accidents. Trauma that damages the brain, ears, or nerves can cause temporary or permanent Deafness.
Aging. Inner ear structures naturally break down as we get older.
Blockages like earwax or fluid in the ears.
Damage to the eardrum, like a perforated eardrum (a hole in the eardrum).
Extremely loud sounds, like explosions.
Genetics. Some hereditary conditions cause congenital Deafness (Deafness present at birth), while others may make people more susceptible to age-related hearing loss or sound damage.
High fevers. Extreme body temperatures can damage the cochlea and other ear structures.
Illness. Infections, nerve disorders, and autoimmune diseases can impact hearing. For example, Meniere’s disease, a condition that affects the inner ear, can cause vertigo, dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and pressure in the ears. Combined, these symptoms can cause hearing loss or Deafness.
Loud sounds over time. Prolonged exposure to loud noise, like concerts or construction work without proper hearing protection, can damage the ears.
Medications like chemotherapy drugs.
Traumatic brain injury or other head trauma.
When is hearing loss considered Deafness?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hearing loss can appear in one of three categories:
Hearing loss. Someone with hearing loss hears below the 20 dB sound threshold of people with standard hearing. Hearing loss can be mild, moderate, severe, or profound.
Hard of hearing. Someone with mild to severe hearing loss may be considered hard of hearing. A hard-of-hearing person may use assistive technology like hearing aids, cochlear implants, or captioning to communicate.
Deaf. Someone who is Deaf has profound hearing loss, or no hearing at all. Many people who are Deaf rely on sign language, written communication, and technology to communicate.
To learn more about the categories of hearing loss, see What Does It Mean to Be Deaf? 8 Quick Facts.
When should I see a doctor about hearing loss or Deafness?
Any changes to your hearing are worth a second opinion. Make an appointment with your primary care physician or an audiologist if:
Your hearing problems interfere with your life.
Your hearing is noticeably getting worse.
You hear worse out of one ear than the other.
Hearing loss starts suddenly and unexpectedly.
Your hearing problems come with ringing or buzzing in your ears.
Your ears are painful, tender, swollen, or overly sensitive.
Hearing loss appears alongside a headache, numbness, or weakness anywhere in your body.
Where can I get more information about Deafness?
For more information on Deafness, see:
For more information on conditions related to Deafness, see:
In addition to the resources on our Portal, Ability Central offers a searchable database of nonprofits across the country. Use the Service Locator tool to find an organization near you offering resources, programs, and support for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
