Hearing Loss Causes & Risks

Causes

Causes of conductive hearing loss include:

• Impacted ear wax
• Fluid in the middle ear
• Ear infections
• Perforation of ear drum
• Stiff bones in the middle ear ( otosclerosis )
• Injury
• Loose or fractured bones in the middle ear
• Missing bones from the middle ear due to previous surgery
• Congenital anomaly causing complete closure of the ear canal (Atresia)
• Tumors

Causes of sensorineural hearing loss include:

• Excess noise
• Aging
• Family history
• Exposure to toxic substances, including such drugs as:
  • Streptomycin
  • Gentamicin
  • Chemotherapy drugs
  • Diuretics
  • Steroids
  • Heart medicines
  • Anesthetics
  • Quinine
  • Aspirin-containing drugs
• Acoustic neuroma
• Cardiovascular disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Viruses ( measles , mumps , adenovirus, rubella )
• History of meningitis or syphilis
• Neurologic diseases such as multiple sclerosis and stroke
• Inner ear disorders such as Meniere’s disease
• Otosclerosis affecting the inner ear
• Previous brain or ear surgery causing damage to the inner ear
• Trauma

Risk Factors

A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition.

Risk factors for hearing loss include:

• Family history
• Aging
• Meniere's disease
• Not receiving all recommended immunizations
• Repeated or poorly treated ear infections
• Exposure to loud noise, music, or machinery
• Use of certain antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs
• Diseases that may result in blocked blood flow, including atherosclerosis , problems with blood clots, and collagen vascular diseases