Hearing loss in adults can be caused from many things – the leading cause is simply aging. Just as our eyes and joints start to deteriorate with age, the same happens to our ears.
Another large factor leading to hearing loss is exposure to noise for a prolonged time. This is why workers in loud environments (i.e. construction workers, aircraft maintenance workers) and those who are exposed to loud recreational noises (i.e. attend concerts or fire guns for hunting) need to be mindful of protecting their ears.
Other causes of hearing loss include:
- Perforation of the eardrum
- Chronic middle ear infections
- Head Injuries
- Acoustic neuromas
- Use of ototoxic medications
- Meniere’s Disease
- Buildup of earwax
- Otosclerosis
- Illnesses (i.e. meningitis, hypo/hyperthyroidism…etc)
The list above is not exhaustive. It is important to seek a hearing health care professional should there be any concerns about your hearing.