Discover the reasons for hearing loss.

Can you imagine a world without hearing the beautiful sounds of a singing bird?

Or the waves splashing down on the beach?

Hearing loss is a serious problem and it may impair your life tremendously. Reasons for hearing loss are many and understanding them will help you to figure out which conditions may afflict you.

There are mainly two types of hearing loss:

Conductive and Sensori-neural.

The former is due to obstruction in the conduction of sound waves. Sensori-neural deafness occurs due to problems in the inner ear.

Common Hearing Loss Reasons:

• Continuous exposure to loud noise. This may be due to firecrackers, sound of airplanes taking off, gunshots or even from working in factories. A single explosion can cause a rupture in the tympanic membrane leading to instant hearing loss.

• Presence of wax in the ear canal. Although the degree of deafness is less, this is the most common cause of hearing loss.

• If a pregnant mother suffers from some infectious diseases like rubella, mumps or influenza while carrying her child, there is chance of hearing loss in the child.

• Some diseases can lead to hearing loss. The common cold is the most frequent disease. It can block the Eustachian tube that connects the nasopharynx to the inner ear leading to hearing loss. Infection with Cytomegalovirus, viral or bacterial meningitis can also lead to damage to the part of brain that controls our hearing. It can also be a reason of hearing loss. Infection of either the external, middle or inner ear cavity will likely lead to some degree of hearing loss.

• Genetic diseases like Klinefelter syndrome can be a cause of deafness.

• Senile deafness – as we grow older, the functioning of the middle ear bones becomes weak. The cochlear fluid also tends to become dry which leads to hearing loss. This condition is called presbycusis or old ear.

• The most frequent cause of hearing loss in children is ‘Glue ear’ or ‘serous otitis media’. Here fluid accumulation occurs in the middle ear cavity after a traumitic event to the ear.

Now that you have a better understanding of the reasons for hearing loss, please consult a doctor for evaluation and treatment.