My Health Digest
Hearing loss that occurs gradually as you age is common.
Hearing loss is defined as one of three types:
Aging and chronic exposure to loud noises both contribute to hearing loss. Other factors, such as excessive earwax, can temporarily reduce how well your ears conduct sounds.
You can’t reverse most types of hearing loss. However, you and your doctor or a hearing specialist can take steps to improve what you hear.
Causes of hearing loss include:
If you have hearing problems, help is available. Treatment depends on the cause and severity of your hearing loss. Options include:
Factors that may damage or lead to loss of the hairs and nerve cells in your inner ear include:
Some illnesses. Diseases or illnesses that result in high fever, such as meningitis, may damage the cochlea.