Why Am I Losing my Hearing?

Hearing loss is a major public health issue that is now the third most common physical condition after arthritis and heart disease. The three types of hearing loss — sensorineural (inner ear damage), conductive (outer or middle ear damage), and mixed (inner, and outer or middle ear damage) — can happen to anyone at any age for a number of reasons.
Noise — Injury to the delicate hair cells in your ears, from sudden or prolonged exposure to loud noises, can result in temporary or permanent hearing loss.
Trauma — An object inserted into the ear, viral infection, explosion, or pressure differences (think plane travel or scuba diving), can cause trauma to the eardrum.
Presbycusis — Age-related hearing loss occurs in one out of three people over the age of 60 and in two-thirds of people over the age of 70.
Ototoxicity — Although a medication’s benefits typically outweigh the risks, such as chemotherapy to treat cancer, medications can cause hearing loss.
Fluid — Abnormal fluid in the middle or inner ear can cause hearing loss and other symptoms like ringing in the ears, vertigo and/or nausea and vomiting.
Wax — Wax lubricates, protects and helps keep ears clean, but too much can impede hearing.
Diabetes — The circulatory issues that diabetics face due to glucose overload also means they are more likely to suffer from hearing loss.
Otosclerosis — A hereditary disorder causing progressive deafness due to overgrowth of bone in the inner ear, it may be accompanied by ringing in the ears.
Should you experience hearing loss, your first step should be to consult your primary care provider. If you feel you are suffering from hearing loss and would like to meet with an audiology expert – call Nola Aronson’s Advanced Audiology and schedule your appointment today at 661-200-0977.