Although hearing loss is a common health problem, it may be so gradual that it goes undetected for years. It occurs when any part of the ear is not working the way it should and the level of loss can range from mild to profound.
age group including infants
and children.
It can be caused by many factors including advanced age, loud noises, medications, illnesses, diseases, injuries and impacted earwax. Depending on the cause, the loss may be permanent.
The two types of hearing loss are conductive and sensorineural. Conductive occurs when the ear has a problem conducting sound at any point along the route from the outer ear to the middle ear. Sensorineural occurs when there is damage to the inner ear or to the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain.
You may be experiencing loss if you have trouble hearing other people speak, hearing is worse in groups, you always turn up the volume on the TV, or cannot hear people speak behind you. When children experience hearing loss, they will have trouble hearing or understanding speech and may have trouble speaking. The best way to diagnose hearing loss is to have your hearing tested by a hearing professional.