Earwax buildup, noise exposure, aging, and infections are common causes of hearing loss. Prevention and reversibility depend on the cause and early detection. Earwax removal, lower music volume, and protective earplugs can help. Presbycusis is irreversible, while infections can cause temporary or permanent damage.
There are four common etiological causes for hearing loss: earwax buildup, prolonged exposure to noise or acoustic trauma, aging, and infections. Each of the four causes of hearing impairment occurs at separate stages in life. The severity of each etiology of hearing loss varies, and preventing each from occurring also depends on what the actual cause of the hearing loss is. The reversibility of each cause depends on how early the cause of the hearing damage is found and what type it is.
Earwax, or cerumen, commonly affects older people and children. People with a heavy buildup of earwax often experience muffled hearing or irritation within the ear canal. Earwax removal can also cause hearing loss if not done properly. When hearing loss is the result of a blockage of this type, it is called conductive hearing loss. Fortunately, this etiology of hearing impairment is easily treated and only affects hearing temporarily.
The most common cause of hearing impairment for adolescents is noise or acoustic trauma. Long-term exposure to noise such as loud music causes gradual hearing loss. Sudden exposure to loud noises, such as gunshots or bombs, leads to instantaneous hearing loss in a phenomenon known as acoustic trauma. Unlike the effects of chronic noise exposure, acoustic trauma is temporary unless the inner ear is damaged. Listening to music at lower decibels and wearing protective earplugs are ways to avoid this problem.
As people age, the structure of the inner ear changes. These changes gradually cause hearing loss. The medical condition for this form of hearing loss is called presbycusis, and the way hearing is lost is called acquired hearing loss. Depending on the individual, hearing changes can be mild or severe. Unfortunately, this etiology of hearing loss is not reversible and is often exacerbated by one or more of the other causes of hearing loss.
The most common etiology of hearing impairment in infants and young children is an ear infection. When hearing is impaired due to damage from infections or other medical conditions, it is referred to as sensorineural impairment. Hearing loss caused by infections is usually temporary. There are a variety of treatments to relieve pain and clear up the infection. If left untreated, however, the infection can permanently impair hearing; chronic ear infections can also have long-lasting effects on hearing.
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