An estimated 3.5 million Australians live with hearing difficulties, making it challenging to follow conversations, especially in social and noisy environments like restaurants, cafés, and family gatherings. As hearing loss progresses gradually, it can be hard to notice the signs at first. Often, family members or friends may be the first to observe the hearing difficulties.
When left untreated, hearing loss can lead to increased isolation, frustration, and reduced effectiveness at work, which can result in lower incomes. It also poses a higher risk of serious health issues, including depression, memory and concentration decline, and even early-onset dementia.
More than 100 years ago, Helen Keller, who was deaf and blind, described the isolation caused by hearing loss aptly: “Sight connects people to things. Hearing connects people to people.”
Addressing hearing difficulties early allows individuals to fully enjoy the sounds that matter most—conversations, music, nature, and laughter.
Hearing loss usually affects different frequencies of sound by varying amounts, making conversations hard to follow. If you feel your hearing is not what it used to be, or if you are concerned that a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss, take a moment to complete our 1-minute hearing check on the next page.
There are three forms of hearing loss: conductive, sensorineural, and mixed hearing loss.
This type of hearing loss results from problems with the passage of sound through the outer ear and/or middle ear.
Common causes include:
· Excessive earwax (cerumen) in the ear canal
· Eardrum perforation
· Middle ear infection with fluid build-up
Conductive hearing loss accounts for only 10% of all hearing losses and ranges from mild to moderate in severity. It can often be medically treated, and in some cases, hearing can be fully restored.
Also known as “nerve deafness,” this is the most common type of hearing loss and originates in the inner ear.
Common causes include:
· Genetic factors (hearing loss can run in families)
· Excessive noise exposure, either sudden or prolonged
· Aging-related changes in the inner ear
Less common causes include reactions to ear-toxic medications, acoustic neuroma (a benign tumor on the cochlear nerve), congenital conditions, infections such as meningitis and mumps, kidney disease, and vascular disease. Damage to the sensory hair cells or nerves is typically irreversible, meaning that 90% of sensorineural hearing loss cases cannot be reversed. In over 95% of cases, hearing aids are recommended for treatment
Mixed hearing loss occurs when there is a problem in both the inner ear and the outer and/or middle ear. An example is someone with
inner-ear damage from prolonged noise exposure who also has a middle ear infection with fluid build-up.
While aging is a significant contributor to hearing loss, it is not exclusive to older adults. Noise exposure is thought to contribute to about 34% of cases. Interestingly, around 50% of Americans with hearing loss are still of traditional working age (under 65 years). Other factors contributing to hearing loss can be seen in the accompanying chart.
Men are more likely to experience hearing loss due to traditionally male-dominated fields like factories, military service, and construction. Today, there is greater awareness of noise damage to hearing, evident in the mandatory use of ear protection in workplaces. However, millions of Americans are still exposed to damaging noise levels daily, including through personal stereo systems.
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