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Symptoms and Causes of Hearing Loss - Silverstein Hearing Centers

Greater Kansas City, Missouri

One of the major causes of hearing loss is aging.

Hearing loss is a natural consequence of getting older. Our hearing ability worsens from our 30s or 40s and onwards and when we reach our 80s, more than half of us suffer from significant hearing loss. Despite that, more than half of all hearing-impaired people are of working age.

Another common reason for hearing loss is exposure to noise.

We live in a noisy world. Noise may come from our work or from voluntary exposure to noise, such as noisy motors or loud music at rock concerts, night clubs, discos and from stereos - with or without the use of headphones. Also the increasing use of portable CD players and MP3 players are causing hearing damages. The players are capable of delivering high sound levels and the user risks exposing their ears to highly excessive dB levels.

Hearing loss may also occur as a result of disease, infections or drugs. It may be inherited or be a result of physical damage to the ears or serious injuries to the head.

Hearing loss can either be conductive or sensorineural. Some people suffer from both, which is called mixed hearing loss.

Symptoms of Hearing Loss

Do you often ask people to repeat?
Do you have difficulty understanding speech in a group of people?
Do you hear people talking, but have difficulty understanding words?
Do you watch a speaker intently to hear?
Have you ever avoided a situation because of your hearing?
Do you have difficulty understanding conversations in the car?
Do you turn up the volume on the TV or radio?
Do you have trouble hearing on the phone?

Causes of Hearing Loss