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What is causing my hearing loss?

Some hearing loss can be prevented. We’re here to help you understand the causes and risk factors of hearing loss, so you can identify potential issues and take steps to better protect your hearing.
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Hearing loss
Hearing Loss Causes
Hearing loss
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Introduction
Risk factors for hearing loss
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Causes of Conductive Hearing Loss
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Introduction

Hearing loss can be caused by many factors

We all have those moments where we wish we could turn down the volume of life – the neighbour's booming music, the noisy construction down the street. But if you're consistently struggling to hear conversations, needing the TV louder than usual, or finding that everyday sounds seem muffled, it might be time to explore the underlying causes of your hearing loss.

While age-related hearing loss is common, there are many other factors that can contribute to hearing difficulties or even accelerate their onset. By understanding these risk factors, you can take proactive steps to avoid losing your hearing earlier or prevent greater severity of hearing loss.

Risk factors for hearing loss

Common risk factors for hearing loss

Let's explore some of the most common risk factors that can contribute to hearing loss. These are elements in your everyday life that might gradually affect your hearing health over time, potentially leading to earlier or more severe hearing loss.
For some people, hearing loss may be influenced by genetics. This means they may be predisposed to hearing loss at birth or experience it earlier in life than most. Genetic factors can include inherited conditions that affect the ear's development or a family history of early-onset hearing loss.

If hearing loss runs in your family, we recommend being proactive and getting your hearing tested earlier and more frequently. Talk to your GP or a Bloom Hearing audiologist to assess your risk and discuss appropriate steps for protecting your hearing health.
Certain health conditions can increase your risk of developing hearing loss, often by affecting blood flow, nerves, or the brain, which can impact the delicate structures in your ears. Conditions like diabetes, autoimmune disorders, cancer, and cardiovascular disease are some examples.

It's also important to be aware that some medications can have side effects that affect your hearing. These side effects might be temporary, but in some cases, they can cause permanent damage. If your doctor says that a medication you take can cause hearing loss, we recommend having your hearing tested annually. This will help stop any hearing loss early and offer intervention options before it gets worse.
It's a fact of life: as we get older, our hearing tends to change. While some degree of age-related hearing loss is a natural part of aging, it's still important to be aware of the gradual changes that might occur.

Research reveals a strong correlation between age and hearing loss. The prevalence of hearing loss increases significantly as we age, affecting approximately half of those aged 60 to 70, rising to 70% for those over 70, and reaching 80% for individuals aged 80 and above. This increase is due to a combination of factors, including the cumulative effects of noise exposure over a lifetime and the natural aging process of the delicate hair cells and nerves in our inner ears.

When you’re in your 20s, it is recommended that you get a hearing test every 10 years or so, unless you have reason to believe you have some hearing loss already. Once you reach your 50s, we recommend getting your hearing tested every two to three years. If you have a diagnosed hearing loss, we recommend a full hearing test every year.
Loud noises are all around us – the roar of traffic, the rumble of construction, the pulsating beat at a concert. While these sounds might seem harmless in the moment, repeated exposure to loud noise can take a toll on your hearing health.

If you work, or used to work, in an occupation where you were exposed to frequent loud noise, it’s a good idea to get your hearing tested regularly. And if you know you’re going to be exposed to loud noise – like a concert, fireworks, construction etc – you can take precautions by wearing ear protection and limiting your exposure as much as possible. Your hearing will thank you in the long run.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Decoding Sensorineural Hearing

Sensorineural hearing loss is one of the two main types. It happens when your inner ear components that are necessary for hearing are damaged or deteriorate. Those components include the inner ear hair cells, nerve damage, and so on. You can read more in our full guide to the types of hearing loss.

There are several causes for sensorineural hearing loss, including the following:

The most common cause of hearing loss is presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss. This occurs when the inner ear hair cells deteriorate over time and become less sensitive. Age-related hearing loss most often occurs in both ears, but for some people the level of hearing loss can vary between both ears.

It is a slow progression, and most people will not realise that they have any hearing loss right away. That is why we advise everyone over the age of 50 to get their hearing tested every two years.

The initial sign of age-related hearing loss is losing the ability to hear sounds in higher pitches. This includes speech, where you have greater difficulty hearing someone who speaks in a higher pitched voice (e.g., women, children).

The second most common cause of hearing loss is due to long-term exposure to loud noise, or sudden exposure to extremely loud noise.

For reference, here is a list of common types of noise and what their average decibel rating can be:

  • Whispering - 30 dB

  • Normal conversation - 60 dB

  • Vacuum cleaner - 70 dB

  • Dense vehicle traffic - 80 dB

  • Food blender - 91 dB

  • Indoor rock concerts - 115 dB

  • Jet engine - 140 dB

This is why many types of jobs have recommended or required hearing protection. People working around equipment that emits noise at 70 dB or more are also advised to get their hearing tested regularly.

Blood flow is necessary to maintain the health of your inner ear hair cells and nerve sensitivity. This is seen with a few different health conditions related to blood flow that are believed to have links to hearing loss.

One is cardiovascular disease (CDV). Although there has been no direct evidence to show that cardiovascular disease causes hearing loss, there are signs that there is a link. In a 2010 study performed by Hull, R.H., & Kerschen, S. R., it was shown that CVD may reduce blood flow to the ear. The lack of blood flow is what can cause deterioration and damage over time to parts of your auditory system in your inner ear.

Another big one is diabetes. A research survey conducted in the United States from 1999 to 2004 in more than 5,000 individuals demonstrated a link with hearing loss. 21% of persons with diabetes had a hearing loss, compared to only 9% of persons without diabetes. In fact, the prevalence of hearing impairment among people with diagnosed diabetes statistically exceeded it among those without diabetes in all age groups except those aged 60 to 69.

It is common for people who have an ear infection to deal with mild to medium hearing loss. Most of the time, this hearing loss is only temporary and will go away as your infection does. However, some severe infections may lead to permanent hearing loss. If your ear infection passes and you find that your hearing has not returned to normal, we recommend that you get a full hearing assessment.
Meniere’s disease is an inner ear condition that is characterised by dizziness, vertigo, and hearing loss. It usually only affects one ear, and can happen to anyone of any age. It is a chronic condition that may come and go, but has treatments that can reduce the symptoms so it doesn’t affect you as much. The hearing loss will also come and go as the condition flares up and recedes.
There are certain autoimmune disorders that can affect your ears and cause hearing loss. One is Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease (AIED), which happens when your immune system attacks and damages your inner ear. It leads to dizziness, tinnitus (ringing in your ears), and hearing loss. It is a very rare condition, however. There are other autoimmune diseases that can also lead to hearing loss as a symptom or indirect cause.

Causes of Conductive Hearing Loss

Unveiling Conductive Hearing Loss

Conductive hearing loss is the second of the two types of hearing loss. It occurs because something blocks sound from getting through your outer and middle ear and into your inner ear. The blockage can caused by a foreign objects or substances obstructing your ear canal. It can also be from an inflammation or abnormality of your ear structure.

There are several causes for conductive hearing loss, including the following:

Otitis media refers to infections in the middle ear canal. These infections are caused when bacteria or a virus enters the middle ear. As a result, such an infection is very often caused by another illness. It is common for things like the common cold, seasonal flu, or even allergies to cause increased congestion and swelling in your sinuses. This can also lead to swelling in your middle ear, and lead to an infection.
It is not uncommon for a foreign object to enter your ear canal and cause a blockage that affects your hearing. It is more common in children, who can intentionally insert objects into their ear canals, where they could become stuck. Among adults, foreign obstructions can include cotton swabs breaking and getting stuck, or insects. Foreign objects stuck in the ear canal can lead to pain and infections, which can further affect your hearing. If you suspect you have a foreign object in your ear, please see your doctor.
Tympanosclerosis is the clinical term for scarring of the eardrum. It can happen after your eardrum is injured, after a surgery, or as a result of chronic inflammation. It can lead to conductive hearing loss, but it might not. Some adults will unknowingly have scarring and experience no noticeable issues. A surgical procedure can remove some of the scarring. If that fails or if the procedure is impossible, then your hearing loss may only be managed with hearing aids.
Microtia and Anotia are both rare types of birth defects where the external ear has not formed properly. With Anotia, the external part of the ear is completely missing. With Microtia, there is an external ear but it has not formed completely so it still affects the child’s hearing. How it affects the child’s hearing will vary depending on the severity of the condition. Surgery may be possible to reconstruct the external ear, but not until the child is older.

A ruptured eardrum is a type of ear-related trauma that can cause infections and hearing loss. Here are the more common causes of an eardrum rupture:

  • Head trauma
  • Sudden loud sounds/acoustic trauma
  • Imbalance of air pressure between your ear and external environment (e.g., air travel)

Typically, a ruptured eardrum can heal itself over a few weeks, which can also restore your hearing to its previous levels. More severe ruptures may require surgery to repair, and any hearing loss may be permanent.

Eustachian tubes run from your middle ears to your upper throat. They equalize the pressure in your ear, and drain fluid from your middle ear. These tubes are small, and as a result can be easily blocked. Blockages can lead to hearing loss, as well as pain or discomfort. When a blockage occurs, it is called eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD). The most common causes of ETD are blockages from sinus infections, allergies, common colds, and altitude changes. The blockages and hearing loss are most often temporary.
Otosclerosis refers to abnormal bone fusion inside your ear. It is most common among young adults. It occurs when three small bones within the middle ear fuse with the surrounding bone. These bones vibrate when sound waves enter the ear canal in order to transmit them to the inner ear. When they fuse with surrounding bones, sound waves are less efficiently transmitted to your inner ear. This results in mild to severe hearing loss. There is no clear cause of otosclerosis, but genetics are believed to play a role. There are two ways to treat this condition, depending on its specific nature and severity: surgery and hearing aids.
Other conditions that lead to abnormal growths protruding into your ears and ear canals can also lead to hearing loss. Tumors are the most common type of growth. These tumors are not necessarily cancerous, and can be benign. Acoustic neuroma is an example of such a tumor that specifically develops on your hearing nerves, which causes hearing loss. Medical management is the best treatment for this condition.

Ossicular chain discontinuity is the clinical term where your middle ear bones become separated. Hearing loss and tinnitus are both common symptoms of this condition. It can be treated with surgery, and if some of the hearing loss is permanent you can explore using hearing aids.

There are many risk factors and causes for hearing loss. Some are minor and temporary, where treating the underlying cause can restore your hearing to its previous levels. Some are more serious, and can lead to permanent hearing loss. Some cannot be avoided, such as trauma from accidents or illnesses causing hearing loss, but some can be prevented with proper ear protection, healthy habits, and consulting with your doctor or a hearing care specialist.

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Request an appointment at the nearest Bloom Hearing store

Hearing is a precious sense that connects us to the world and the people we love. But when it's compromised, it can significantly impact our quality of life, relationships, and overall well-being. If you've noticed that conversations are becoming more challenging, or if the sounds around you seem muffled and distant, it might be time to consider scheduling an appointment for a hearing evaluation.
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