If you’re experiencing difficulty hearing, or you’re concerned about a loved one who’s struggling to keep up with conversations, you might have lots of questions.
Hearing loss can happen for a variety of reasons. Some types of hearing loss can be temporary and treatable, while others are permanent and may gradually worsen over time.
Sudden hearing loss in one ear or both ears is a medical emergency, and if you experience it you should seek medical advice straight away.
Around 37.5 million adults in the US report they have hearing problems – that’s around 15% of the population. Half of people aged 75 and older have disabling or severe hearing loss.
There are three main types of hearing loss:
- Sensorineural hearing loss
- Conductive hearing loss
- Mixed hearing loss
Each type affects a different part of the auditory system – the body’s system that’s responsible for our sense of hearing and how we understand sounds.
Hearing loss can be caused by advancing age, exposure to loud noise, genetics, a blockage in the ear, and infections, among other things.
Depending on the type and cause of hearing loss, treatments may be available, the most common being hearing aids.
