Nearly 20% of the global population, which accounts for more than 1.5 billion people, live with hearing loss. This condition can arise from various factors, including hazardous noise exposure, aging, physical trauma to the ear canal and more.
Let’s look at three main factors contributing to hearing loss and how you can protect your hearing health moving forward.
Three Main Causes of Hearing Loss
Hazardous noise exposure is one of the leading causes of hearing loss. When subjected to loud noise, the delicate hair cells in the ear responsible for transmitting sound can become overworked, leading to cell death or damage.
Age-related hearing loss is another common cause that often occurs gradually and is difficult to prevent. Changes to the inner ear, middle ear and nerve pathways leading to the brain are typically responsible for this type of hearing loss. Symptoms may include difficulty understanding high-pitched sounds, speech or audio from electronic devices. Regular hearing tests are advisable to detect age-related hearing loss early.
Physical trauma to the ear, such as from a blow to the head, can result in damage to the middle and inner ear, leading to hearing loss and tinnitus.
These three causes, hazardous noise exposure, aging and physical trauma, contribute significantly to hearing loss cases worldwide. While complete prevention may not always be possible, early detection and treatment with hearing aids can help manage the impact of this condition on one’s life.
Protecting Your Hearing
While not all causes of hearing loss can be protected against, such as hearing, you have a little more control over others, including:
- Loud noise exposure. Preventing noise-induced hearing loss requires avoiding noise levels exceeding 70 decibels (dB) for extended periods or instant exposure to sounds above 120 dB. Decibel detector apps or devices can be beneficial in helping gauge noise levels. If these are unavailable, making comparisons can provide an estimate. For example, the sound emitted by a washing machine or dishwasher is approximately 70 dB, while a dog barking can expose you to 110-120 dB.
- Physical trauma. Most people have conked their heads on a kitchen cabinet or unexpectedly fallen at least once in their lives. While some injuries are unavoidable, wearing a helmet during high-risk activities, like football games at Torrance Park, can help protect the ears and reduce the risk of excessive damage.
While you cannot stop aging, wearing hearing protection around loud noise and a helmet when you’re at risk of physical injury can make a huge difference in preventing hearing loss.
For further information on preventing or treating hearing loss, contact Torrance Audiology and schedule an appointment with one of our specialists.