Worried your hearing might be going? You’re not alone! Hearing loss impacts almost one-third (30.9%) of Americans over the age of 65 and around 60.7 million Americans as young as 12 years old.

On top of that, global rates of hearing loss have risen sharply in recent years. The World Health Organization estimates this number will reach nearly 2.5 billion by 2050.

Much of that growth is among younger people. According to a recent national study, about 12% of children between ages 6 and 19 have permanent hearing damage from exposure to excessive noise. Some research suggests this is often related to listening to music at high volumes with earbuds.

Why it’s important to address hearing loss

An absence of sensation is often more difficult to notice than a new ache or pain. That’s why losing hearing in one ear may be easier to notice than gradual loss on both sides. Add social stigma around hearing loss, and it’s no surprise that it often goes undiagnosed and unaddressed.

According to one estimate, as much as 80% of hearing loss goes undiagnosed. This may not seem like a big deal. After all, many people who were born deaf or have adapted to limited hearing over the course of their lifetimes don’t see it as a problem. However, when hearing individuals begin losing that sense and don’t make necessary adjustments, it can contribute to serious issues.

Untreated/undiagnosed hearing loss can have considerable negative impacts on quality of life.

• Linked to an increased risk of depression, especially in older adults
• Linked to increased social isolation
• Linked to reduced income/job opportunities
• Linked to an increased risk of falling or other accidents
• Linked to increased risk for dementia

What causes hearing loss?

You may think of hearing loss as one of those things that just happens as you age — like back pain or getting really into WWII documentaries. However, there are certain risk factors that may contribute to hearing loss. There are also precautions you can take to protect your ears as you age.

Risk factors for hearing loss

• Aging — The parts of your ears responsible for detecting sounds break down with time. 
• Genetics — Your DNA and genetics may increase your chances of inheriting some types of hearing loss.
• Noisy work environments — Working long hours around loud equipment, increases your risk of noise-induced hearing loss. However, wearing ear protection can help mitigate that risk. Headphones playing music do not count as ear protection — in fact, they can make it worse! 
• Loud hobbies — Spending your free time in noisy environments like concerts or gun ranges can be dangerous for your hearing. Again, wearing proper ear protection can reduce the risk of these activities.
• Certain medications — Some medications, including some antibiotics, some chemotherapy drugs, and even some over-the-counter painkillers can increase the chances of someone losing their hearing. Consult a physician or look for warning labels about “ototoxicity,” which is the term for this kind of damage if you’re concerned about any medications you may be taking. 

Types of hearing loss 

The cause of your hearing loss will partially determine your treatment options. There are three distinct types of hearing loss:  

• Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when a part of the inner ear or the actual hearing nerve itself gets damaged. This is the most common type of hearing loss and can be caused by any of the factors listed above. While this often happens over a long period of time, loud noises can sometimes cause sudden hearing loss, which should be treated quickly.
• Conductive hearing loss occurs when an obstruction of some kind prevents sound from passing through the outer or middle ear. This could be related to a buildup of earwax or some other object blocking the ear canal. However, infections, abnormal bone growths, or even damage to the eardrum or ossicles (the three bones attached to the eardrum) can also be the source.
• Mixed hearing loss is a combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss impacting the middle or outer ear as well as the inner ear.

Signs of hearing loss in

Young children are especially unlikely to recognize when their hearing is going. Even if they do, they may not know how to effectively communicate their situation.

Mistaking the signs that a child may be experiencing hearing loss for other issues is common.

It’s important for parents, teachers, and other guardians to be alert for a combination of these potential signs: 

• Poor enunciation 
• Not following instructions 
• Confusion or lack of attention in conversation with others 
• Setting volume on TVs and other devices very high 
• Trouble in school 

Many schools administer free hearing screenings to all students, usually every other year beginning in kindergarten or first grade. If a child fails a screening or if there is ever a concern about a child’s hearing,the next step is to get a full hearing loss test from an Audiologist. 

Signs of hearing loss in adults 

Even for grown-ups, it can sometimes be difficult to recognize. It can be tempting to write off potential warning signs or chalk it up to something else. 

Below is a list of common signs to watch out for. Read through the list and check those that apply to help you determine whether you or a loved one might be experiencing hearing loss. 

Do you: 

• Have difficulty understanding conversations in noisy environments 
• Have difficulty hearing consonants 
• Frequently ask people to speak slower 
• Frequently ask people to speak louder 
• Frequently ask people to speak more clearly 
• Hear better in one ear 
• Feel exhausted after social gatherings, possibly due to listening fatigue 
• Look at people’s mouths when they speak instead of their eyes 
• Hear a persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears 
• Frequently turn up the volume when watching TV or listening to music 
• Have difficulty understanding people on the phone 
• Experience dizziness or loss of balance 
• Feel pressure within the ear canal 
• Speak too loudly 

A person with undiagnosed hearing loss may also come across as clumsy or nonsocial. An outside observer may even mistake hearing loss symptoms for age-related cognitive decline.  

Test your hearing at home 

Looking for further proof before you set up an appointment with an audiologist? There are plenty of online options for a quick, self-administered hearing check. These are not replacements for professional hearing screenings, but they can be useful to gauge your current hearing loss. 

Here are a couple of good options to check out: 

• AARP’s National Hearing Test — A free phone-based hearing test available once per year to all AARP members.
• Audicus Online Hearing Test — This free online test takes about 20 minutes and requires headphones. 
• CheckHearing.org — A 3-step test that doesn’t require any membership and provides results in the form of an audiogram similar to those produced by professional screenings. 
• Hear.com — A convenient online hearing test that provides a simple score on a scale of 1-10. 

There are also a number of smartphone apps designed to help you test your hearing.

• Mimi Hearing Technologies — This app allows you to test and track your hearing over time. It can even link with certain headphones to personalize your device’s audio output. 
• MindEar — With a specific focus on tinnitus relief, MindEar also offers a convenient hearing test for your smartphone. 

Degrees of hearing loss

Losing your hearing isn’t an all-or-nothing situation. Sudden extreme hearing loss is possible, but gradual loss of hearing in one or both ears is much more common. Most experts organize hearing loss into four commonly used categories based on severity. 

Mild

The hearing threshold for mild hearing loss is between 26 and 40 dB in the sound frequencies related to human speech. It may feel like trying to listen through earmuffs. Many people with mild hearing loss are able to manage without treatment. Some opt for hearing aids, especially in noisy environments. 

Sounds that are difficult to hear with mild hearing loss might include:

• Soft voices or children
• Vowel sounds
• Low-volume notifications or alerts, like car turn signals
• Chirping birds
• A person walking behind you

Moderate

Moderate hearing loss means you can’t hear 41-70 dB sounds in the speech frequency range. Conversations involve a lot of asking people to repeat themselves. At this level of hearing loss, most people are more comfortable with hearing aids. 

Sounds that are difficult to hear with moderate hearing loss include:

• Most normal conversational speech
• Voices on the phone
• Consonant and vowel sounds
• Light traffic

Severe 

A person with severe hearing loss cannot hear sounds lower than 71-90 dB. At this level of hearing loss, amplification or hearing aids are necessary for comprehension.  

Sounds that are difficult to hear with severe hearing loss include:

• All normal speech
• Some loud noises
• Alarm clocks
• Loud traffic

Profound

When you can’t hear sounds below 90 dB, you’re suffering from profound hearing loss. At this level, even loud noises aren’t audible without hearing aids or a cochlear implant. Without assistive technology, someone with profound hearing loss relies on reading lips or communicating via sign language. 

Sounds that are difficult to hear with profound hearing loss include:

• Fire alarms
• Power tools
• Food processors
• Lawn mowers 

What to do next 

Just like any health-related issue, don’t simply rely on what you read online. If you think you are experiencing hearing loss, it may be time to set an appointment with an audiologist.

They will run some hearing loss tests which will produce an audiogram. This is a visual representation of your unique hearing loss. It shows the degree of hearing loss in each ear and which frequencies you’re having the most trouble hearing.   

Your audiologist specialist will work with you to develop a treatment plan based on your unique hearing loss profile.