What Causes Hearing Loss?
There are many causes of hearing loss. The most common cause of hearing loss is the aging process. Other causes include hereditary problems, diseases, infection, certain drugs and injury, and exposure to excessive noise.
Age related hearing loss (presbycusis) is caused by the gradual deterioration, through wear and tear, of the delicate hair cells in the inner ear. These highly sensitive cells process sound vibrations into electrical impulses that are then sent along the auditory nerve to the brain which recognises them as familiar sounds we hear.
Noise induced hearing loss is becoming more common. Excessive loud noise, either in the workplace or leisure (clay pigeon shooting or MP3 players). Equally, prolonged exposure to even moderately loud noise can cause accelerated wear and lead to an early onset of hearing loss.
The prevalence of hearing loss
Hearing loss is a common phenomenon. It is estimated that 1 in 7 people suffer from a hearing disorder. According to the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID), some 42% of the over 50s in the UK experience some hearing loss. This rises to nearly 70% of the over 70s, and as much as 92% of the over 80s population.
Who Are Hidden Hearing?
