What Causes Hearing Loss
Many of us will eventually experience hearing loss to some degree. After age 60, roughly two-thirds of people experience age-related hearing loss called presbycusis. But there are certain things that can speed up hearing loss.
● Loud sounds: This is the most common cause of hearing loss. Loud sounds can permanently damage the tiny antenna-like hairs and other sensory cells in the cochlea. Along with age-related hearing loss, loud noises can lead to tinnitus. This is a health problem marked by ringing or buzzing in the ears, which can make it hard to hear.9 As a result, you’ll want to protect yourself from noises above 70 decibels (dB), a unit used to measure sound. That means, for example, that you’ll want to wear hearing protection when:
● Mowing the lawn (80 to 100 dB)
● Riding a motorcycle (80 to 110 dB)
● Going to a live sporting event or concert (94 to 110 dB)
● Watching fireworks (140 to 160 dB)
To help determine what’s harmful to your ears, you can download apps on your smartphone or tablet that measure the decibel level of the sounds around you.
● Certain diseases: High blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes are all linked to an increased chance of hearing loss.
● Smoking: Like high blood pressure, smoking can damage the blood vessels in your ears.
● Certain medicines: Some medicines are “ototoxic” or ear-toxic — meaning they may damage tissues in the ear. This includes some medications used to treat cancer, like cisplatin, or infections, such as gentamicin.
● Genetics: Some inherited forms of hearing loss can show up later in life.