Hearing loss can affect people of any age. One in six adults has some degree of hearing loss, which increases to three in four people over the age of 75. Children can also be affected, usually due to fluid or infection in the middle ear, but also due to congenital problems or viral illness during early childhood. Recognizing hearing loss symptoms early is important for timely hearing loss treatment.

The Mechanism of Hearing

We hear sounds through the ear canal and eardrum, where vibrations are transmitted through the ossicles (small bones in the ear) to the inner ear, or cochlea. Here, sound waves are converted into electrical signals, which are passed on to the brain along the auditory nerve.

Types of Deafness

The causes of deafness can be broadly grouped into conductive hearing loss (due to problems in the ear canal and middle ear) and sensorineural hearing loss (which involves issues with the inner ear or the auditory nerve).

Conductive hearing loss can occur due to issues like wax blocking the ear canal, infection, fluid buildup, trauma, or fixation of the ossicles in the middle ear. Fortunately, these conditions can usually be treated with appropriate hearing loss treatment.

Sensorineural hearing loss, on the other hand, is caused by problems in the inner ear or auditory nerve. Common causes include age-related hearing loss (presbycusis), viral infections, trauma, certain medications, noise exposure, and congenital issues. While some inner ear problems are reversible, most sensorineural hearing loss is permanent. In rare cases, it may be caused by a growth or tumor in the brain.

As technology advances, hearing aids continue to improve, helping to amplify sounds heard by the inner ear, which can partially overcome hearing loss symptoms improve quality of life for those affected.