Causes of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is an unfortunate condition millions of Canadians will suffer from at some point during their lives. While it is a common ailment, it has several different causes. The most common causes are due to age, excessive noise, genetics, and illness.

The most common cause of hearing loss is simply age. As humans age we naturally lose the ability to hear higher frequencies gradually over time. While this process usually begins in early adulthood, it does not begin to interfere with communication until a more advanced age. Another common reason for hearing loss is exposure to excessive noise pollution. Noise pollution is estimated to cause hearing difficulties in nearly 5% of the entire world’s population. Prolonged exposure to noise in the 65 to 70 decibel range can cause permanent hearing loss.

Genetics often plays a role in hearing loss. Caused a number of by both recessive and dominant genes, hearing loss can be passed down through parents, persisting for several generations. Lastly, hearing loss can be caused by several illnesses. Measles and meningitis have both been linked to damage to the auditory nerve. Several sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia and syphilis, can cause significant hearing loss in newborn infected during birth.

For more information on hearing loss, and how it might be prevented or treated, try an internet search for “hearing loss Toronto.”

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