Some of the most common causes of hearing loss include:
Hearing loss can occur at any time during your life. You can benefit from getting your hearing checked by one of hearing care experts, no matter what has caused your hearing loss.
Just answer the four questions below to see whether you should consider getting a hearing test.
Your answers indicate that you experience symptoms of hearing loss. We strongly recommend booking a hearing test in one of our clinics.
The result is an indication. An in-person hearing test can determine if you have a hearing loss.
Your answers indicate that you experience some symptoms of hearing loss. We recommend booking a hearing test in one of our clinics.
The result is an indication. An in-person hearing test can determine if you have a hearing loss.
Your answers do not indicate that you experience symptoms of hearing loss. However, if you experience trouble hearing, we recommend booking a hearing test in one of our clinics.
The result is an indication. An in-person hearing test can determine if you have a hearing loss.
Age is the single biggest cause of hearing loss. Changes in the inner ear occur naturally as we grow older. Genes and loud noise can also play a big role. When your hearing starts to weaken, it becomes more difficult to:
Because the loss is gradual, you may not realise that you’ve lost some of your hearing ability.
Repeated exposure to high levels of noise is another common cause of hearing loss. If you're exposed to loud noise for too long, the sensitive hair cells in the inner ear become damaged, and your ability to hear clearly can be affected.
Some people have a higher risk of developing noise-induced hearing loss if they're exposed to loud noise in their work environment (e.g. military personnel or musicians). Listening to excessively loud music at live concerts (or through headphones) can also cause hearing damage. There are things you can do to help prevent hearing loss.
Congenital hearing loss is a specific hearing loss cause. It means that a baby is born with hearing difficulties. The baby's hearing loss can be caused by either genetic defects, infections during pregnancy or low birth weight.
When compared to all causes of hearing loss, congenital hearing loss is quite rare: less than 1% of babies are born with hearing loss.
Today’s hearing aids are more technologically advanced and smaller than ever.
Some of them are practically invisible but still offer excellent sound quality – even in difficult listening situations.
Others can also be connected to your smartphone (or other smart devices) so you can stream sound directly into your hearing aids.
Regardless of the cause of your hearing loss, there is help available.
Understanding the source of your difficulties gives our experts insight into your needs.
While there's a wide range of possible causes and treatments for hearing loss, most hearing loss cases are treated with hearing aids.
Grace Sims completed her Bachelor of Science in Audiology at the University of Bristol and has previously worked in the ENT department at Southmead Hospital in Bristol. She joined Hidden Hearing in 2014 and is an audiologist at the Cheltenham clinic. She has been a practice educator for four years and is now a Hidden Hearing mentor.
Last reviewed 2024-07-01
1. https://www.babyhearing.org/genetic-hearing-loss-faq
2. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003044.htm
