Most Common Causes of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss can happen at any time throughout life. The most common causes of hearing loss occur from age or exposure to loud noise. However, hearing loss can also result from an infection or an injury. Whatever the cause of your hearing loss, you most likely will benefit from being fitted with hearing aids.

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Age-related hearing loss 

The single most common cause of hearing loss is Age. As our age increases, the daily wear and tear on our hearing systems slowly reduces our ability to hear. Soft voices and high-frequency sounds, such as women's and children's voices, become difficult to hear when your hearing weakens. Conversations in noisy places become very difficult to follow for those with age-related hearing loss. 

You may not notice your loss of hearing because it is such a gradual loss. Family members are typically the first to notice when a loved one is suffering from age-related hearing loss.

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Noise-induced hearing loss 

Repetitive exposure to high levels of noise is another common cause of hearing loss. Being exposed to loud noise for too long causes the hair cells in the inner ear to become damaged and die. As you begin to lose these hair cells, you also lose the ability to hear.

Some professions tend to have a higher risk of causing a noise-induced hearing loss. People who work in the following professions may have a higher risk of developing a noise-induced hearing loss: Military personnel, musicians, kindergarten teachers, factory workers and construction workers. Damage to your hearing can be caused by listening to loud music at live concerts or through headphones. It is highly recommended to wear ear protection anytime you are exposed to excessive noise, and turn down the volume when using headphones.

Different types of hearing loss

Whichever type of hearing loss you may have, we can help. Our wide range of hearing aids are made for mild, moderate or severe hearing loss and our highly trained hearing care professionals have in-depth knowledge of them all.

Sensorineural hearing loss

This is the most common type of hearing loss, the most common cause is by damage to the sensitive hair cells in the inner ear, or to nerves that are used for hearing. This damage stops sound from properly transmitting to the brain. Sensorineural hearing loss typically happens due to natural ageing or repetitive exposure to high levels of noise. In most cases Sensorineural hearing loss is permanent. Hearing aids are usually required to improve hearing abilities.

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  • Common causes of sensorineural hearing loss:

  • Periodic exposure to loud noises

  • Natural ageing

  • Inherited factors

  • Illness, infections and injuries

Conductive hearing loss

A conductive hearing loss is an problem in the outer or middle ear that obstructs sound from reaching the inner ear. This can prevent the three bones in your middle ear, known as ossicles from vibrating properly. A permanent conductive hearing loss can be treated with hearing aids.

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  • Common causes of conductive hearing loss:

  • Earwax buildup

  • Infections causing swelling or fluid buildup

  • Accidents or trauma

  • Malformation of the middle ears

Protect your hearing

Protect your ears in these situations or avoid them completely to take good care of your hearing.

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    Background noise

    Any environment that you find yourself shouting to make yourself heard over background noise

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    Industrial noise 

    An environment that the noise hurts your ears or makes them ring

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    Live music 

    Concerts or festivals where high sound levels make it difficult to hear for several hours afterwards

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