What Causes Hearing Loss

As we age, our hearing gradually becomes less acute. This affects the clarity with which we hear speech and affects certain speech sounds such as ‘s’, ‘f’ and ‘t’. What this means is that these sounds end up sounding similar. The words ‘see’ and ‘tea’ might sound the same.

Exposure to loud noise can cause damage to the hairs or nerve cells in the cochlea which send sound signals to the brain. When these are damaged or missing, electrical signals are not transmitted efficiently, and hearing loss occurs.

Ear wax can block the ear canal and prevent conduction of sound waves.

An ear infection is an infection of the middle ear, which is located behind the eardrum and contains the tiny vibrating bones of the ear. Ear infections often clear up on their own, although sometimes antibiotics are used. Some people are prone to having multiple ear infections. This can cause hearing problems and other serious complications. Other medical conditions can also affect your hearing including peripheral nerve tumors, pediatric brain tumors and benign brain tumors.

Also referred to as a perforated ear drum. Most ruptured ear drums heal within two weeks; however, your doctor may run several tests to ascertain if you have experienced any hearing loss.

Medications such as antibiotic gentamicin, Viagra and some chemotherapy drugs can damage the inner ear.

Diseases or illnesses that result in high fever, such as meningitis, may damage the cochlea. Other illnesses and disease which can affect hearing include mumps, chickenpox, Meniere’s disease, severe jaundice, and cytomegalovirus. Genetic disorders can also cause deafness including osteogenesis imperfecta, Trisomy 13 and Treacher Collins syndrome.

A baby will be born deaf or with hearing problems if they are exposed to certain diseases in utero, including rubella (German measles) and mumps. Other factors that can cause congenital deafness include exposure to methyl mercury and medications such as quinine. Some types of hearing loss are hereditary. Most cases of hereditary hearing loss are caused by malformations of the inner ear.

Tinnitus is not a disease or an illness – it is a sensation of noises in the ears when there are no environmental sounds around. These sounds can be ringing, buzzing, roaring, whistling, humming. Some triggers of tinnitus include middle ear infections, or damage to the ear from loud noises.