The causes of hearing loss can be as varied as the different types and configuration of this condition. It is best to differentiate the symptoms of hearing loss in adults and children to better understand how it develops and is acquired by an individual.
Constant exposure to various elements in the environment and one’s lifestyle choices all contribute to how one contracts hearing loss problems. The factors that can affect your auditory system and eventually lead to hearing loss are as varied as the symptoms themselves.
Other Diseases or Medical Condition
In most cases, hearing loss is tied to some other medical condition or disease that one person suffers from. However, there are two common diseases that are closely tied to hearing loss: otosclerosis and Meniere’s disease.
Otosclerosis is a condition affecting the middle ear capsule. As you know, there are tiny bones located in your middle ear that are responsible for transporting sound waves into your inner ear. Stape is one of them and this is the specific bone that is targeted by otosclerosis.
Meniere’s disease, meanwhile, affects the membranes in your inner ear. It exhibits similar symptoms as hearing loss such as vertigo and tinnitus.
Medications and Drugs
You might be unaware but certain medications or drugs that you take affect the auditory system. Therefore, you need to be careful about the types of medications you take for your other diseases as it could damage your hearing. Ototoxic are among those types of drugs known to be hazardous to your auditory system. Take note of the following drugs because they are recognized to contain ototoxic:
- aminoglycoside antibiotics – neomycin, streptomycin, kanamycin
- large dosage of salicylates such as aspirin
- loop diuretics – ethacrynic acid and lasix
- drugs for chemotherapy – carboplatin, nitrogen mustard, cisplatin
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Continued exposure to harmful noise levels can really damage your hearing system. This one does not discriminate and affects all people regardless of age. When you’re ears are subjected to too much noise, the cochlea is damaged and it can actually led to permanent hearing loss. This cause of hearing loss is gradual and does not cause any pain; hence most are not even aware that they are already causing damage to their hearing system. The source of noise can be quite mundane such as playing loud music or being exposed to noisy equipment such as the sound of a lawn mower.
Aging Process
Hearing loss that is related to aging is termed as presbycusis. As a person ages, the inner ear undergoes changes that affect the capacity to hear clearly. Aside from degeneration of your inner ear, it also targets some other components of your entire auditory system. Since this condition develops with age, it is a gradual process. Therefore, it is a common scenario for aging individuals, such as aged 55 to 65, to diminish their hearing capacity.