Loud music, industrial noise, and natural aging. These are all things that contribute to hearing loss. If one of these factors is, or was, prevalent in your life, you may wonder if your hearing is starting to deteriorate.

Hearing loss cannot be reversed, but you can take steps to keep it from getting worse and improve what you hear. That’s why it’s best to catch it early on.

This article will review the warning signs that are telling you that you may be losing your hearing, so you can act sooner rather than later.

What is the Type of Hearing Loss?

There are three types of hearing loss. These are as follows:

·                 Conductive: This involves the outer or middle ear.

·                 Sensorineural: This involves the inner ear.

·                 Mixed: This involved a combination of the two.

What are the Symptoms of Hearing Loss?

The symptoms of hearing loss include:

·                 Muffled sounds

·                 Difficulty hearing words

·                 Difficulty hearing consonants

·                 Asking people to speak up

·                 Needing to turn up the sound on audio devices

·                 Avoiding conversations and social settings

What are the Causes of Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss can occur due to a variety of factors. Here are some risks to be aware of.

·                 Aging: The inner ear structure degenerates over time causing hearing loss.

·                 Loud noise: Exposure to loud noise can cause damage to the cells of the inner ear. Damage can occur due to long term exposure to noise or from a short blast of noise like an explosion.

·                 Medications: Medications like Viagra, the antibiotic gentamicin, and certain chemotherapy drugs can damage the inner ear. Pain relievers like aspirin, antimalarial drugs, and loop diuretics can cause a temporary ringing in the ear.

·                 Some illnesses: Certain diseases and illnesses that cause a high fever may damage the cochlea. 

How Does Hearing Loss Occur?

Inner Ear Damage: Aging and loud noise can cause damage to the nerve cells in the cochlea that are responsible for sending sound signals to the brain. When damage occurs, the signals aren’t transmitted as efficiently resulting in hearing loss.

Ear Wax Build Up: Ear wax protects and cleans the ear but excessive build up can block the ear canal causing hearing loss. Fortunately, this can be remedied with an ear cleaning.

Abnormal Growth, Ear Infection or Tumors: When these occur in the outer and middle ear, they can cause hearing loss. Luckily, they can usually be remedied.

Ruptured Eardrum: Also called tympanic membrane perforation, an ear drum can become ruptured due to loud blasts of noise, sudden pressure changes, poking the ear drum with an object, and infection.

How Can You Prevent Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss is a common problem for many, but it can be prevented. Be sure to wear earplugs or earmuffs when exposed to loud noise and, if possible, avoid loud noise completely.

You should also have your hearing tested regularly, especially if you are exposed to noise on an ongoing basis. A doctor will recommend steps you can take to avoid further damage.

These tips in this article will help you better understand hearing loss and the steps you can take to prevent it. Good luck keeping your hearing safe for years to come.

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