Hearing loss in adults has many causes.
Some hearing loss causes, such as noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), are preventable.
Other causes, such as those inherited from your family, are harder to prevent.
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This article covershearing loss symptoms,types of hearing loss, and common causes of hearing loss.
From the ear canal, sound vibrations hit theeardrum.
Vibrating sound waves striking the eardrum set tiny bones calledauditory ossiclesinto motion.
The middle ear’s stirrup bone connects to the inner ear.
Blasting loud music or playing video games at high volume can also cause hearing loss over time.
Aging increases hearing loss risk.
After age 75, about half of the U.S. population has difficulty hearing.
Viral and bacterial infections can cause unilateral (one ear) or bilateral (both ears) hearing loss.
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing lossoccurs when something blocks sound waves from getting to the inner ear.
Congenital Hearing Loss
Congenital hearing lossis present from birth.
One decibel (dB) is one-tenth of a bel.
Prolonged exposure to noise or music above 70 dB can damage your hearing over time.
Below is a decibel chart that ranks the intensity of different noises from 20 to 200 dB.
Vaccinations are the best way to protect against viruses that can lead to hearing loss.
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