Causes Of Hearing Loss in Adults

There are three types of hearing loss: Sensorineural, Conductive and Mixed Loss. 

The most common is a sensorineural loss, which makes up about 85% to 90% of the hearing loss found in adults. The others are made up of both conductive and/or mixed losses.

Presbycusis is a sensorineural hearing loss that occurs gradually later in life. The condition affects hearing in both ears over time. Speech begins to sound muffled or unclear because the ability to hear high pitch sounds is the first to go. The consonant sounds of speech like “s” “f” “t” th” and “k” can begin to sound the same and words like “swim” and “thin” or “tan” and “fan” can not be differentiated.

Noise-induced hearing loss is cause by exposure to very loud noise can cause permanent hearing loss. This sensorineural loss is caused by listening to loud noise for long periods of time and causes damage to the hair cells in the inner ear. Noise-induced hearing loss usually develops gradually and painlessly although a single exposure to an extremely loud sound such as an explosion or gun shot can cause a sudden loss of hearing. This is called acoustic trauma.

Physical head injury can lead to traumatic brain injury (TBI) , skull fractures, a perforated eardrum, and damage to the middle ear structures, resulting in a conductive hearing loss.

Otosclerosis is a disease involving the middle ear . It affects the movement of the tiny bones in the middle ear. Otosclerosis can cause a conductive type of hearing loss . This condition is often surgically treatable.

Other cause of hearing loss in adults are:

Ménière's disease - It affects the inner ear . The cause of Ménière's disease is unknown. It usually begins between the ages of 30 and 50.

Autoimmune inner ear disease - This sudden-onset hearing loss is fast, dramatic, and should be medically treated as soon as possible. With swift medical treatment, the hearing loss from this disease can be reduced.

Ototoxic medications can cause hearing loss. Drugs known to be ototoxic are: Antibiotics (such as streptomycin, neomycin, large doses of aspirin, diuretics and drugs used in chemotherapy regimens.

Acoustic neuroma is an example of a tumor that causes hearing loss. Symptoms can include hearing loss or ringing in one ear accompanied by a feeling of fullness. Treatment for acoustic neuroma is medical.