Causes and reasons for hearing loss
What are the common causes of hearing loss in adults?
Some of the most common causes of hearing loss include:
- Aging
- Excessive noise exposure
- Injury
- Viral infections (such as measles or mumps)
- Wax buildup
- Ototoxic drugs (medications that damage hearing)
- Genetics
Hearing loss can occur at any time during your lifespan. No matter the cause of your hearing loss, you can benefit from getting your hearing checked by a hearing care professional.
Ask yourself: Do you need a hearing test?
Answer the four questions below to see if you should consider getting a hearing test.
Your Result:
We recommend a hearing test
Your answers indicate that you experience symptoms of hearing loss. We strongly recommend booking a hearing test at one of our clinics.
The result is an indication. An in-person hearing test can determine if you have a hearing loss.
Your Result:
We recommend a hearing test
Your answers indicate that you experience some symptoms of hearing loss. We recommend booking a hearing test at one of our clinics.
The result is an indication. An in-person hearing test can determine if you have a hearing loss.
Your Result:
We could not determine whether you need a hearing test
Your answers do not indicate that you experience symptoms of hearing loss. However, if you experience trouble hearing, we recommend booking a hearing test at one of our clinics.
The result is an indication. An in-person hearing test can determine if you have a hearing loss.
Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis)
Age is the single largest cause of hearing loss. It is caused by changes in the inner ear that occur as you grow older. Additionally, genes and loud noise can also play a big role. When your hearing starts to weaken, it becomes more difficult to:
- Hear soft voices
- Hear high-frequency sounds (voices of children and women)
- Follow conversations in the presence of background noise.
Because the loss is gradual, you may not realize that you’ve lost some of your ability to hear.
Noise-induced hearing loss
Repeated exposure to high levels of noise is another common cause of hearing loss. If you are exposed to loud noise for too long, the sensitive hair cells in the inner ear become damaged, and your ability to hear clearly can be compromised.
Some people have a higher risk of developing noise-induced hearing loss if they are exposed to loud noise in their work environment (e.g. military personnel or musicians). Listening to excessively loud music at live concerts (or through headphones) can be another cause of hearing damage.
Congenital hearing loss
Congenital hearing loss is a specific cause of hearing loss, and it means that a baby is born with hearing difficulties. The baby's hearing loss can be caused by either genetic defects, infections during pregnancy or low birth weight.
When compared to all causes of hearing loss, congenital hearing loss is quite rare: about 1% of babies are born with hearing loss.
Protect your ears in loud environments
Did you know?
Today’s hearing aids are more technologically advanced and smaller than ever.
Some of them are practically invisible and yet offer excellent sound quality - even in difficult listening situations.
Others can also be connected to your smartphone (or other smart devices) in order to stream sound directly to your hearing aids.
Treatment options for hearing loss
Fortunately, there is help available regardless of the cause of your hearing loss. Understanding the source of your issues gives our professionals insight into your needs.
While there is a wide range of possible causes and treatments for hearing loss, most cases of hearing loss are treated with hearing aids. Your hearing care professional will explain the best treatment plan for you after you have completed a hearing evaluation.
FAQ about causes of hearing loss
Katie graduated with a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) Degree, with Distinction, from the University of Western Ontario in 2006, followed by a Master's degree in Audiology from the same institution in 2008. Upon completing her studies, she began providing hearing healthcare as an Audiologist at various HearingLife clinics in the Waterloo Region, eventually settling at the Cambridge HearingLife clinic, where she has helped her clients experience better hearing for over 13 years.
Alongside her role as Senior Manager, Audiology at HearingLife, she has been a Part-Time Professor at Conestoga College in the Hearing Instrument Specialist program since 2019, teaching both Clinical Principles 1 and 2 courses.
Last reviewed 2024-12-16
Sources
1. https://www.babyhearing.org/genetic-hearing-loss-faq
