Hearing loss is being partly or totally unable to hear sound in one or both ears.
See also:
It is common to lose a little bit of hearing after age 20.
Hearing problems often start slowly over time. They rarely lead to total deafness.
There are many causes of hearing loss. Hearing loss can be divided into two main categories:
CHL can often be reversed. SNHL cannot be reversed. People who have both forms of hearing loss are said to have mixed hearing loss.
Hearing loss may be caused by fluid that stays in the ear after an ear infection. Ear infections are common in children.
Other ear problems that can cause hearing loss:
Hearing loss that is present at birth (congenital) may be due to:
Infections that can damage the brain or nerves of the ear:
The ear can be injured by:
Other causes are:
You can often flush wax buildup out of the ear (gently) with ear syringes (available in drug stores) and warm water. Wax softeners (like Cerumenex) may be needed if the wax is hard and stuck in the ear.
Take care when removing foreign objects from the ear. Unless it is easy to get to, have your health care provider remove the object. Don't use sharp instruments to remove foreign objects.
See your health care provider for any other hearing loss.
Call your health care provider if:
The health care provider will take your medical history and do a physical exam.
Medical history questions may include:
The health care provider will carefully examine your ears.
Tests that may be done include:
If hearing loss does not go away, surgery may be done to improve hearing. If you have sensorineural hearing loss, a hearing aid may help you hear. Cochlear implants are only used in people who are completely deaf and would not benefit from a hearing aid.
Decreased hearing; Deafness; Loss of hearing; Conductive hearing loss
Hildebrand MS, Husein M, Smith RJH. Genetic sensorineural hearing loss. In: Cummings CW, Flint PW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2010:chap 147.
Arts HA. Sensorineural hearing loss in adults. In: Cummings CW, Flint PW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2010:chap 149.
Lonsbury-Martin BL, Martin GK. Noise-induced hearing loss. In: Cummings CW, Flint PW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2010:chap 151.
Bauer CA, Jenkins HA. Otologic symptoms and syndromes. In: Cummings CW, Flint PW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2010:chap 156.
Reviewed by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Seth Schwartz, MD, MPH, Otolaryngologist, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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