Top Causes of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss has many causes, and there are multiple reasons and classifications for them. The ones discussed here are mostly concerning hearing loss after childhood, not hearing loss present at birth. The easiest way to discuss a few of the leading causes of hearing loss is based on its category. Here are some of the top causes of hearing loss post-childhood.

Causes of Outer/Middle Ear Hearing Loss

Ear Wax

Believe it or not, excessive ear wax can cause temporary loss of hearing until it’s resolved. This is because the ear wax blocks the ear canal, so there’s no way for sound to travel to your eardrum.

Trauma & Inflammation

The external parts of your ear are susceptible to trauma and inflammation. These events can impact your ability to hear with blockage. Noticeable hearing loss occurs when the entrance to the ear canal has a blockage or clog.

Foreign Body

It’s not often we find a foreign body or foreign object in someone’s ear, but this could be the issue if you’re experiencing difficulty hearing. The foreign body ends up blocking the passage of sound, making it hard to hear.

Causes of Inner Ear Hearing Loss

Noise Exposure

Excessive noise is said to be the second leading cause of hearing loss. The most common cause is no longer loud environments like concerts, but from the earbuds and headphones, we wear and use with our phones. As a result, the sensory cells in your cochlea become damaged, making it difficult to hear correctly.

Infectious Diseases

There is a decent-sized list of infectious diseases, bacterial or viral, that are known to cause hearing loss. Often, the hearing loss only occurs in one ear, though. Although not exhaustive, some of those diseases include measles, meningitis, chickenpox, and influenza.

Aging

Aging is a common reason for hearing loss. As you age, the state of your cochlea deteriorates, thereby affecting your ability to hear at your total capacity.

Medications

There are a handful of medications that have known side effects of hearing loss or impairment, known as ototoxic drugs. More recently, drugs such as these are only being used in life-threatening situations like cancer or severe infections. Aspirin has been known to cause hearing loss when taken in regular, large doses, but the difference here is that the effects can usually be reversed once you stop taking the medication.

If you are struggling with hearing loss and would like to learn more about what could be causing it and possible treatments, call East Texas Sinus and Dizziness Center. Our experts would be glad to sit down at a consultation with you and discuss your symptoms. Contact us today!

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