Experiencing hearing loss may be a frightening experience for many. Yet, it’s a health concern affecting millions of people worldwide. Contrary to the common belief that it only happens to aging people, hearing loss can occur at any age and for various reasons. Different factors, from genetics to environmental influences, can cause it.
Understanding the different types of hearing loss and their causes can prevent it from happening early. Potential patients with hearing loss may seek early treatment to maintain their hearing health and avoid overall health risks.
Let’s explore the major types of hearing loss and their causes.
What Causes Hearing Loss
The causes of hearing loss fall under two categories: congenital (present at birth) or acquired (developed later in life).
Congenital causes of hearing loss
A person’s genetic makeup affects their hearing health. Many cases of congenital hearing loss may be due to genetic mutations inherited from one or both parents. Syndromes like Usher syndrome or Waardenburg syndrome are associated with hearing loss in different degrees.
Furthermore, complications during a person’s birth may also affect their hearing. Premature birth, lack of oxygen during delivery, or maternal infections may result in an infant losing their hearing. Doctors usually perform hearing tests on newborns within a few days after birth to determine the babies’ hearing health from the start of life.
Acquired causes of hearing loss
Meanwhile, acquired causes of hearing loss develop later on. Environmental, medical, or lifestyle factors may influence them.
- Noise exposure: Non-stop exposure to loud sounds is a leading cause of hearing loss. Watch out for musing playing at high volumes or constant machinery noise. Sudden loud noises like explosions, too, can cause immediate damage.
- Infections: Infections like measles, mumps, or meningitis may damage the auditory system, leading to hearing loss. Even a common ear infection like otitis media can cause temporary hearing issues and lead to permanent ones if left untreated.
- Medications: Some medications may have harmful side effects that damage the auditory system. Pay attention to certain antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, and diuretics. The medical term for these drugs is ‘ototoxic medications.’
- Aging: Age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis, affects many people over 65. It occurs because of the natural degeneration of the cochlea and auditory pathways.
- Trauma: Severe trauma to the head, like a skull fracture or perforated eardrums, may also cause hearing loss, either temporary or permanent.
Types of Hearing Loss
Four broad categories of hearing loss exist, ranging from mild to severe. Each type has its own underlying causes and affects different areas of the auditory system.
Conductive hearing loss
Conductive hearing loss happens when sound waves are blocked from reaching the inner ear. It usually results from issues in the outer or middle ear. This type of hearing loss can be treated or corrected in most cases.
Various causes may explain this condition. For example, fluid buildup in the middle ear due to infections can block sound transmission. Excessive earwax or foreign objects entering the ear may also block the ear canal. Otherwise, abnormal bone growth or perforated eardrums may cause it. Contact an auditory clinic immediately if you have these symptoms to correct your hearing.
Sensorineural hearing loss
Another common type of hearing loss is sensorineural hearing loss. It happens when there’s damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve. This type of hearing loss may be permanent. If you are experiencing one of the causes, get your hearing examined immediately. You may have to wear hearing aids or get a cochlear implant.
Presbycusis causes sensorineural hearing loss due to the natural aging process. However, prolonged exposure to loud noises can also damage the delicate hair cells in your cochlea, resulting in this condition. Even medical conditions like diabetes and genetics may cause this type of hearing loss.
Mixed hearing loss
Mixed hearing loss is a mix of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss that affects sound waves as they struggle to pass through the middle ear. However, the affected areas may vary, as it can also happen when the inner ear’s hair cells or auditory nerves are damaged. This condition is most likely caused by chronic ear infections or head injuries.
Mixed hearing loss is treatable in many cases. However, the treatment depends on how mild or severe your degree of impairment is. Some patients may need surgery, but others may simply benefit from hearing aids. Consult with your audiologist to see how you can get treatment for mixed hearing loss.
Sound processing disorders
A certain type of hearing loss involves a disorder in processing sounds. However, this type may not always be uniform in causes or physiology. One disorder is called ANSD, or auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder. The inner ear detects sound, but the ear’s auditory nerve and pathways fail to transmit signals properly to the brain. People with ANSD may have normal hearing or hearing loss, but they always have poor speech perception.
The other is called APD, or Auditory Processing Disorder. It happens when the brain has trouble processing and interpreting auditory information despite the ear functioning well. People with APD may perform poorly in skills like sound localization, auditory discrimination, and auditory pattern recognition.
APD is the more common condition, usually occurring in children. Meanwhile, ANSD is rarer and more often associated with specific auditory or neurological damage.
Conclusion
Hearing loss is not caused by just one factor. While congenital hearing loss may happen due to genetics or conditions suffered at birth, acquired hearing loss has different causes. Noise exposure, infections, medications, head trauma, and aging may affect the latter category. Meanwhile, the four types of hearing loss—conductive, sensorineural, mixed, or caused by sound processing disorder—must be assessed to get the correct treatment depending on the degree of hearing loss.
Get your hearing examined immediately to determine what type of hearing loss you experience. Contact El Dorado Hearing and make an appointment today.
info@ElDoradoHearing.com
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