Ringing in your ears, asking friends to repeat themselves, avoiding phone calls—have any of these signs of hearing loss happened to you?
Hearing loss affects around 60.7 million Americans age 12 or older. That’s nearly a fifth of the US population.
When hearing loss is such a common disability, why does the average person not know much about it? As our population ages, it’s important to familiarize ourselves with all kinds of hearing loss so we know how to prepare for the future.
In this article, Ability Central answers the most frequently asked questions about hearing loss, including:
What is hearing loss?
How common is hearing loss?
What causes hearing loss?
Which parts of the ear can be involved in hearing loss?
What are the most common types of hearing loss?
How is hearing loss measured?
When should I go to a doctor about hearing loss?
What kind of doctor treats hearing loss?
Where can I get more information about hearing loss?
What is hearing loss?
“Hearing loss” refers to sudden or gradual decreasing of what you can hear.
While sudden deafness (a complete inability to hear) in one or both ears is cause for emergency, hearing loss often happens gradually. Sometimes, the symptoms of hearing loss are so mild people don’t realize they’re losing their hearing until a friend or family member points it out.
Hearing loss symptoms may include:
Muffled speech
Difficulty understanding conversations, especially in noisy environments
Turning up the TV or watching with subtitles
Ringing in the ears
Avoiding social situations or becoming more withdrawn
To learn more about the symptoms of hearing loss, see 21 Signs You May Be Losing Your Hearing.
How common is hearing loss?
In the United States, hearing loss affects as many as:
15.5% of people aged 20 or older
31.1% of people aged 65 or older
40.3% of people aged 75 or older
These numbers are expected to double by 2060, largely due to a rising number of seniors and unsafe sound habits among young adults.
What causes hearing loss?
The two most common causes of hearing loss are old age and chronic exposure to loud noises.
Most of the time, hearing loss associated with old age is permanent, although people may be able to improve their hearing with surgery or assistive devices like hearing aids.
On the other hand, hearing loss from noise exposure can be temporary, like how someone’s ears ring for a few hours after they leave a concert. The more time a person spends in loud environments without proper hearing protection, the more likely they are to develop hearing loss.
In addition, people may have temporary hearing loss if they:
Have a disease like an ear infection or meningitis
Hurt their ears, brain, or spine
Take certain medicines
Have a buildup of excessive ear wax
What parts of the ear can be involved in hearing loss?
Hearing loss can affect the ears in five places:
Outer ear
Middle ear
Inner ear, also called the cochlea
Auditory nerve, the nerve responsible for sending sound signals to the brain
Auditory system
What are the most common types of hearing loss?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) categorize three main types of hearing loss:
Conductive hearing loss
Sensorineural hearing loss
Mixed hearing loss
Conductive hearing loss
Conductive hearing loss happens when something blocks the ear canal, cutting off sound signals from the outer and middle ear. Examples of conductive hearing loss might include:
Earwax or fluid buildup
An injury to the ear canal that causes swelling or scabbing
A hole in the eardrum (also called a “perforated eardrum” or “burst eardrum”)
Sensorineural hearing loss
Sensorineural hearing loss involves problems with the inner ear and the way sound signals travel between the ears and the brain, usually due to damage to the small hairs in the cochlea or the auditory nerve.
In addition to aging, head trauma, or loud noise, sensorineural hearing loss might occur due to:
Inner ear abnormalities
Genetic conditions like Usher syndrome
Jaundice, especially in babies who developed kernicterus after birth
Viral infections
Mixed hearing loss
Mixed hearing loss happens when someone has both conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss.
To learn more about the different types of hearing loss, see Understanding Your Hearing Loss Diagnosis.
How is hearing loss measured?
Hearing loss is measured on a scale from “normal hearing” to “profound hearing loss.” We measure sound in decibels, so these ratings depend on the decibel range of your hearing.
There are six main “levels” of hearing loss:
Normal hearing, without any hearing loss.
Mild hearing loss, where someone can hear most things but may miss out on subtle sounds or sounds that are extremely high-pitched or low-pitched.
Moderate hearing loss, usually characterized by difficulty understanding speech when there is background noise.
Moderate to severe hearing loss, when someone can no longer hear people speaking at a normal volume.
Severe hearing loss, when someone can no longer hear critical sounds like doorbells, fire alarms, or traffic sounds.
Profound hearing loss, when someone hears very little or cannot hear anything at all. Someone with no hearing whatsoever is said to have “profound hearing loss” or “profound deafness.” They may also be described as “profoundly deaf.”
To learn more about how hearing loss is measured, see Understanding Your Hearing Loss Diagnosis.
When should I go to a doctor about hearing loss?
If you or a loved one are concerned you may be losing your hearing, you should schedule an appointment with a primary care physician, family doctor, or audiologist. For older adults, consider getting your hearing tested at least once a year.
Other signs you should see a doctor about hearing loss include:
Any change to your hearing that happens suddenly, without a known cause
Constant ringing, humming, or whooshing in the ears (also known as tinnitus)
Vertigo or dizziness
Tumors or lumps in or around your ears
Ear pain, especially when chewing or in high altitudes
Drainage, discharge, or fluid coming from your ears
Difficulties with balance
What kind of doctor treats hearing loss?
When it comes to hearing loss, there are several doctors and specialists available.
A primary care physician is an excellent first step. They can direct you to a specialist that fits your needs.
An otolaryngologist, also called an ear, nose, and throat doctor or ENT, is a doctor who provides medical and surgical care, diagnosis, and treatment of the ear, nose, throat, and neck. These doctors work with you to find out why you’re having trouble hearing and offer specific treatment options.
An audiologist can test your hearing to identify the type and degree of hearing loss. They are licensed to fit and dispense hearing aids.
A hearing instrument specialist is a state-licensed professional who conducts basic hearing tests and fits and dispenses hearing aids.
Where can I get more information about hearing loss?
For more information, see Ability Central’s articles on:
Looking for more? Check out the Service Locator tool
If you live outside of California or want to find even more hearing loss support organizations near you, check out the Ability Central Service Locator tool. This free, searchable database can connect you with nonprofits all over the country offering services for people who are Deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind.
