Information / Resources

Common Questions About Hearing Loss

What is Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss is a loss of the loudness and/or clarity of sounds. Most people have had temporary hearing loss at least once in their lives. If you have a cold or have been exposed to loud noise for a short while you may feel 'a little bit deaf'. Or if the air pressure around you is changing, for example while diving or flying, your ears may feel 'blocked'. In these cases your hearing should return to normal within a couple of days at most. If it doesn't, see a doctor.

Why am I losing my hearing?

Hearing loss happens for many reasons. Some people lose their hearing slowly as they age. This condition is known as presbycusis (prez-buh-KYOO-sis). Doctors do not know why presbycusis happens, but it seems to run in families. Another reason for hearing loss may be exposure to too much loud noise. This condition is known as noise-induced hearing loss. Many construction workers, farmers, musicians, airport workers, tree cutters, and people in the armed forces have hearing problems because of too much exposure to loud noise. Sometimes loud noise can cause a ringing, hissing, or roaring sound in the ears, called tinnitus (tin-NY-tus).

Hearing loss can also be caused by a virus or bacteria, heart conditions or stroke, head injuries, tumors, and certain medicines.

How do I know if I have Hearing Loss?

The onset of hearing loss is usually very gradual. It may take place over 25-30 years or it may happen more rapidly if you are exposed to loud noises at work or through hobbies. By age 50 or 60, there can be enough deterioration to interfere with conversation. Because it usually does occur slowly, you may not even be aware you have a problem even though family and friends are quite aware of it.

Unless you have a moderate to severe hearing loss you'll probably have no problem talking face to face with someone. However, you might find it difficult hearing someone on the telephone, in a noisy environment or from a distance. You may also find some higher pitched voices or words hard to pick up. You may need to listen to the television or radio at a volume that is too loud for others. And you may not always hear the telephone or doorbell when it rings. If you think you have some hearing loss, arrange through a doctor to have your hearing tested by a qualified audiologist.

How much noise is too much?

Sounds louder than 85 decibels (dB) can damage your ears. A decibel is a unit that measures the intensity of sound on a scale from zero to 140. A normal conversation is about 60 dB. Chainsaws, hammer drills, and bulldozers ring in at over 100 dB. So if you are a construction worker, harmful sounds may be a regular part of your job. The same goes for people working around lawn mowers and factory machinery every day. Airport workers and farmers are two more groups that are regularly exposed to loud noise. However, loud noise does not have to be an everyday happening to cause damage. One-time exposure, such as the sound of a gun firing at close range, can harm you.