Understanding & Preventing Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is common

Hearing loss can happen to anyone. Today, more than 48 million Americans have a hearing impairment to some degree. Learn more about how you can prevent different kinds of hearing problems, their causes, and about treatment options like hearing aids.

Classifications of hearing loss

There are three main classifications of hearing loss, and treatment will often depend on the kind of hearing loss you have. Types of hearing loss include:

The most common type of hearing classifications is known as sensorineural hearing loss. It's a permanent hearing loss that occurs when there is damage to either the cells of the inner ear or the auditory nerve itself. In older adults, the cause is usually exposure to loud noise over time.

Conductive hearing loss occurs when there is an obstruction or damage to the outer or middle ear. This prevents sound from being conducted to the inner ear. It may be permanent or temporary, depending on the exact cause.

Mixed hearing loss is exactly what the name suggests: a combination of both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. It commonly occurs when there has been damage over time in addition to some sort of trauma to the ear.

Your hearing health

Your hearing health is our top priority. There are multiple moving parts to maintaining good hearing health as with any other aspect of your overall health. Learn how to take care of your hearing here:

Hearing loss facts

Hearing loss is more common than you may think. Learn more about hearing loss here:

Expert advice

Get advice on hearing loss and what may cause hearing loss. Learn the answers to the tough questions here:

Learn more about the types of hearing loss

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Degrees of hearing loss

Impaired hearing occurs at different levels of severity. Let’s discuss the different degrees of hearing loss and the sound levels you can hear at each.

The lowest audible range is -10 to 15 dB. If you have normal hearing, you should not have much difficulty distinguishing noises in loud environments.

The lowest audible range for someone with mild hearing loss is 26 to 40 dB. Signs that you may experiencing this include difficulty following conversations and speakers in noisy environments and decreased sensitivity to high-frequency sounds.

The lowest audible range for moderate hearing loss is 41 to 55 dB. Signs that you may be experiencing this include difficulty following conversations without a hearing aid and sounds starting to blend together.

The lowest audible range for severe hearing loss is 71 to 90 dB. Signs you may be experiencing this include having trouble hearing conversations in quiet environments and being unable to hear everyday sounds that you once did, like the birds outside or the turn signal in your car.

Related diseases and conditions

Hearing loss is interconnected to your overall health and well-being. Learn more about these connections here:

Lifestyle

Hearing loss can happen suddenly, but it can also be caused by every day activities. Learn more about how hearing loss is impacts and influences day-to-day life.

Hearing loss education

Do you know how hearing works? Or how hearing loss works? Learn more about it and the types of hearing loss here:

Can hearing loss be reversed?

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Hearing loss causes

Hearing loss can happen over time, or it might be sudden. Some of the most common causes of hearing loss include:

Aging
Exposure to loud noise over time
Buildup of ear wax
Abnormal tumors or growths
Ototoxic medications

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Signs of hearing loss

Since hearing loss often happens gradually, the symptoms can by subtle or even missed:

Difficulty hearing on the phone
Asking people to repeat themselves
Feeling like people are mumbling
Turning up the TV so that it's too loud for others
Difficulty hearing women and children

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Hearing loss treatment

Effective treatment for impaired hearing depends on both the type of hearing loss as well as the cause. Sometimes it can be as simple as removing excess ear wax. In other cases, however, surgery may be necessary.

This is usually the case when there are abnormalities of the ear drum or bones of the ear or you've had repeated infections. Luckily, most cases of sensorineural hearing loss can be treated with hearing aids.

Hearing loss prevention

Our hearing is precious and connects us to the people and things we love. It's important to protect our hearing so we can enjoy all it does for us. Our three top tips for hearing loss prevention are: