Hearing Loss FAQs: What Causes Hearing Loss in TX, FL, CA, CO, and GA?

Generally, yes, with the caveat that the hearing loss must be severe enough to affect your quality of life adversely. You'll first need to submit to a hearing test as part of the Social Security Administration's disability evaluation process.  You will then qualify for hearing loss as a disability if you meet either of the following categories: 

• You have an average hearing conduction threshold of 90 decibels (dB) or greater and a bone conduction hearing threshold of 60 dB or greater in your good ear. 
• Your word recognition score in your good ear is 40% or lower. 

Cochlear implants make things even more complicated, as you can only treat hearing loss as a disability if your word recognition score is 60% after wearing them for a year. 
 

Anyone can take steps to avoid certain types of hearing loss. However, inner ear deterioration due to aging is an unavoidable part of getting older, and genetics can play a role in hearing loss too. Noise-induced hearing loss is preventable. People exposed to loud noises at work from construction or machinery can wear ear protection. Other ways everyone can protect their hearing include:

• Not listening to music or the radio too loud, especially while wearing headphones
• Avoid sticking things into your ears, such as cotton swabs
• When blowing your nose, do it gently through both nostrils simultaneously
• Yawn frequently when in high altitudes or traveling by plane

Depending on the type and severity of your hearing loss, you have many different options for managing the condition, including: 

• Assistive listening devices.
• Therapy and rehabilitation.
• Cochlear implants.
• Prescription hearing aids.
• Over-the-counter hearing aids.
• Specialized peripherals. 
• Dedicated communities and support groups.
• Sign language. 

Cellular degeneration is an inevitable part of aging. As we grow older, our bodies start to break down, and our organs stop working as well as they used to. Because the mechanisms of the inner ear responsible for hearing are so delicate, they seem to be far more prone to this type of degradation, to the extent that one in three adults over the age of 65 has some degree of hearing loss.

Since everyone experiences hearing loss differently, it's difficult to measure how it will affect a person until they actually experience it. On the one hand, it can be an incredibly isolating condition, harmful both to one's mental health and quality of life. On the other, education, preparation, and a strong support network can greatly lessen the negative effects of hearing loss. 

In theory, our ears were never intended for prolonged exposure to any sound above 60 decibels (dB), the average for human speech. In practice, however, studies have found the safe threshold for continuous noise to be 75-80 dB. For context,  that's roughly the noise level of a busy restaurant or an older vacuum cleaner.

For sounds above 85 dB, such as lawnmowers and power tools, there is a risk of permanent hearing damage with more than two hours of exposure. For 95 dB noise levels such as motorcycle engines, hearing damage may occur in roughly 50 minutes. Sounds ranging from 105-110 dB can cause permanent damage within five minutes of exposure.

Without proper protection, sirens (120 dB) and firecrackers (140-150 dB) may cause immediate and permanent hearing damage. Sounds above 150 dB can instantly rupture your eardrums. Anything above 185 dB can not only cause permanent deafness but also damage your internal organs.

The eruption of Krakatoa, the loudest recorded sound in history—at 194 dB—would likely be either deadly or crippling even with proper hearing protection.

Sounds louder than 194 dB are impossible, and at that point, the amplitude becomes so pronounced that it transforms from a soundwave to a shockwave. 

Symptoms of hearing loss can vary depending on the condition’s cause or portion of the ear affected. The most common signs include:

• Frequently asking people to speak up or repeat themselves
• Not being able to follow a conversation between two or more people
• Difficulty hearing in noisy situations or crowds
• Feeling like people are mumbling when they speak
• Constantly having the TV or radio on at high volumes
• Preferring to avoid social situations

Each type is categorized by the portion of the ear affected.

• Sensorineural – This type of hearing loss involves the inner ear and is the most common form of hearing loss. Tiny hair cells in the inner ear are called the cochlea, and when they’re damaged, it disrupts hearing. It’s a permanent form of loss, and most patients can manage the condition with a hearing aid. Cochlear implants can be an option for patients with a severe form of sensorineural hearing loss.
• Conductive – Loss caused by issues of the outer or inner ear is called conductive loss. Most of the time, this is caused by some obstruction of the standard air conduction sound pathways, such as earwax buildup or another object stuck in the ear canal. Ear infections that cause fluid buildup are another common source. This type is often treated through a surgical procedure to alleviate the blockage.
• Mixed – Anyone with hearing loss that combines both of the above types is diagnosed with mixed hearing loss.

Some forms of hearing loss are genetic. In some cases, genetic hearing loss results from direct mutations in genes that affect the development and function of the ear. In others, it's a side effect of a genetic or congenital disease.

Some researchers have suggested that there may also be a genetic or hereditary component to age-related hearing loss. 
 

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is the most common type of permanent hearing impairment. It's typically the result of damage to the auditory nerve or the cochlea, which is responsible for transmitting sound to the auditory nerve. Sound reaches the inner ear and then fails to transmit properly to the auditory center of the brain.

Conductive hearing loss is an issue with sound conduction. It occurs when something prevents sound from actually reaching the inner ear.

A defect with the ossicles, the small bones that transmit vibrations from the eardrum to the cochlea, may be responsible. But is more commonly due to a blockage in the ear.

Unfortunately, there's no way to know for certain on your own. If you want to know whether your hearing loss is permanent or temporary, you'll need to book an appointment with your audiologist to get your hearing tested. They'll be able to determine your impairment's nature, cause, and severity. 

The inner ear doesn't just contain the auditory system. It also contains the vestibular system, which gives us our ability to walk and stand. For this reason, certain types of SNHL may cause dizziness.

Some genetic conditions, such as Meniere's Disease, are defined by intense periods of vertigo. 

Sudden hearing loss is a rare occurrence, and the condition typically happens gradually over time. The most common causes of gradual hearing loss are:

• Deterioration of the inner ear due to aging
• Prolonged exposure to loud noises at work or during recreational activities
• Illnesses and diseases, such as diabetes
• Ear infections
• Wax buildup
• High blood pressure
• Smoking

Technically no, but it has been found to contribute heavily to cognitive decline and brain atrophy. If hearing loss is left untreated for too long, it's possible for your brain to simply 'forget' how to process certain sounds. Research by Johns Hopkins further indicates that people with hearing loss have a higher risk of developing dementia. 

Yes. Chronic stress can cause permanent damage to multiple systems of the body due to hypertension, sleep deprivation, and the overproduction of adrenaline. Unfortunately, coping with chronic stress isn't easy—instead of giving you trite advice on how you should relax, exercise, or meditate, we're going to recommend that you speak to a therapist about possible stress management techniques. 

There's a well-established link between strokes and sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), but not for the reason you may think. The latter may act as a precursor to the former, a warning sign that you need to seek emergency care. With that said, because a stroke can also cause brain damage, there's a chance you may be left with degradation in your speech and auditory centers.

High blood sugar levels and high blood pressure together can damage the delicate blood vessels in the ear. Over time, a lack of proper blood flow will eventually cause degradation in the organs of the inner ear. 

Yes. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, may cause both temporary and permanent hearing loss by causing blood vessels in the ear to burst. 

Although tinnitus doesn't cause hearing loss, it's typically closely associated with hearing loss. If you're experiencing unexplained tinnitus, you may want to make an appointment with your audiologist. It could signify impending hearing damage or something worse. 

Although there is some evidence to suggest that COVID-19 may cause hearing damage—and hearing loss is a possible symptom of the virus—more research is needed before we can say with certainty. We also don't know for certain whether any hearing loss caused by the virus is temporary or permanent. 

There are many ways to treat and manage hearing loss, from steroid medication to hearing assistance devices and surgical procedures. Which treatments are most effective largely depends on the cause and nature of your hearing loss. 

Sometimes, yes—but only if the hearing loss is temporary.  Treatment is possible in the case of congenital or permanent hearing loss, but there is no way to recover from or reverse the condition. 

Not yet. However, many incredibly promising potential treatments are currently undergoing clinical trials, everything from gene editing to experimental drugs.

Hearing aids are small medical devices that amplify sound, allowing those with hearing issues to hear more clearly. They’re available in several different styles, such as behind-the-ear, receiver-in-canal, in-the-ear, and Lyric.

A cochlear implant is an electronic device that works differently than a hearing aid. Hearing aids amplify sounds. This implant converts sounds to digital signals sent to the brain and translated as sound. It bypasses the damaged nerve cells in the ear that would normally complete this function. A cochlear implant is an option for people with severe hearing loss who don’t respond to hearing aids.

An assistive listening device (ALD) is a portable amplifier that separates speech from background noise so people with hearing loss can follow conversations more easily. They help in different environments where distance, additional background noise, or acoustics make it hard to hear. Assistive listening devices can be used independently or in conjunction with a hearing aid or cochlear implant.

Hearing aids are designed to provide improved hearing in everyday situations. Their design is smaller, and the device fits discreetly either behind the ear or in the ear canal with this in mind. Assistive listening devices (ALDs) are noticeably bulkier and frequently include a microphone box, wires, or a headset.

The sole purpose of ALDs is to amplify sound, whereas a hearing aid can be custom-programmed to fit the unique hearing needs of the individual in various environments, making them a better choice for those with hearing loss.

Generally, hearing aids are most frequently recommended to people with moderate to severe hearing loss. This means they have, at minimum, difficulty hearing sounds quieter than 60 dB, which includes regular conversation. With that said, it also depends on how much of an impact the hearing loss has on a person's quality of life—in some cases, hearing aids or assistive devices may also be provided to people with mild hearing loss. 

Cognitive decline is the greatest risk of untreated hearing loss. Just as a muscle you never use will begin to atrophy, certain sections of your brain's auditory center may degrade if hearing loss is left unaddressed for too long. This is in addition to the condition's impact on emotional well-being, quality of life, job performance, and social relationships.