What Causes Hearing Loss

Sound is actually a vibration or frequency that travels through the air as a wave. When it reaches the outer ear, also known as the pinna or auricle, the sound is funneled into the ear canal by the unique funnel shape of the ear. When these sound waves hit the eardrum, it vibrates. The vibrations are carried from the eardrum to three tiny bones, called the malleus, the incus, and the stapes. These bones help amplify the sound as it passes through the middle ear to the cochlea in the inner ear. The cochlea contains a liquid that bends the thousands of tiny hair cells in the inner ear, creating electrical impulses. These impulses travel along the auditory nerve to the brain, which then processes the electrical impulses into what we recognize as sound.Hearing loss occurs when parts of this auditory pathway are not working correctly. It can vary from a small loss of sensitivity to a total loss of hearing. The two main categories of hearing loss are conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss is caused by a mechanical problem in the outer or middle ear. Sensorineural hearing loss happens as a result of a problem in the inner ear. It usually occurs when the tiny hair cells have been injured.Some types of hearing loss can occur before birth. Genetic disorders and infections are usually the cause in such cases. However, hearing loss mainly occurs later in life. It can be caused by infection, injuries, or exposure to certain drugs or chemicals. Even earwax buildup can be a factor in loss of hearing. It is well known that exposure to loud noises over a long period of time can also damage a person’s hearing. About 30 million workers are exposed to dangerous noise levels on their jobs every day. Today hearing loss is one of the most prevalent chronic health conditions in the United States, affecting people of all ages, in every aspect of the population, and across all socioeconomic levels. Hearing loss also affects approximately 17 in 1,000 children under age 18. Unfortunately though, the incidence of hearing loss increases with age. Today approximately 314 in 1,000 people over age 65 have some form of hearing loss.

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