Hearing loss is not just for seniors! Part 1

06 May Hearing loss is not just for seniors! Part 1

Hearing loss is not just for seniors and individuals of all ages have hearing loss. There are 3 types of hearing loss: 1) Conductive, Sensorineural & Mixed hearing loss. Here is a quick description of some common causes of hearing loss. Hearing loss can occur at any age!

• Wax:
  • It is normal to have wax in your ears. In some, the wax builds up and can cause a temporary hearing loss. Consult your audiologist or family physician if you have wax buildup.
• Ear infection:
  • An ear infection occurs when there is a build-up of fluid in the middle ear space (behind the ear drum) and the fluid is infected. Ear infections are common in childhood. When there is fluid behind the ear drum it can cause a temporary hearing loss. Recurrent ear infections over time can also cause permanent damage to hearing.
• Damage to the ear drum
  • Damage to the ear drum from trauma or ear infection can cause a conductive hearing loss. Depending on the size of the hole in the ear drum it may heal on its own but larger holes may need medical intervention.
• Otosclerosis:
  • Otosclerosis is a conductive hearing loss caused by abnormal growth of bone in the middle ear. It prevents the normal movement of the middle ear bones in response to sound.  Otosclerosis may be genetic and occurs in females more often than males.

In our next post we will be talking about some additional causes of hearing loss.