There are 3 overall types of hearing loss: sensorineural, conductive, and mixed hearing loss. They are differentiated based on which part of the ear is damaged. Learn more about each type of hearing loss.

One of the most common warning signs of hearing loss is difficulty following conversations (or understanding what others are saying). Study the 6 most common signs of hearing loss or take our online hearing test to find out if you should get your hearing checked. Should I get a hearing test?

Although there is no official cure for age-related hearing loss and no guaranteed  hearing loss prevention method, there are steps you can take to reduce your likelihood of developing hearing loss over your lifetime. Learn more about healthy hearing practices and hearing protection solutions that can help keep hearing loss at bay.

A person’s hearing is usually evaluated via a series of tests, including otoscopic, tympanometry, audiometry and speech testing. A physical ear exam is also included in the evaluation. During audiometry, the audiologist identifies the softest sounds a person can hear across a range of frequencies.

While the most common type of hearing loss is sensorineural - where sound becomes distorted or muffled, the most common reason for hearing loss is ageing.

As we age, the tiny hair cells in our inner ear become damaged and can't conduct sound as effectively as they would have previously. These cells do not regrow, so the hearing loss is permanent.

Constant exposure to loud noises can also cause irreparable damage to the ear. 

While most hearing loss is caused by ageing and exposure to loud noise, it can also be brought on by many illnesses.

Hearing loss can be brought on very quickly by an autoimmune disease, whereby the body attacks itself. This can be remedied if action is taken to prevent further hearing loss.

Otosclerosis is a disease which affects the inner ear. It causes conductive hearing loss by stopping the bones in the middle ear from being able to move freely and conduct sound easily. It can be cured effectively with surgery.

Meniere’s Disease, is an inner ear problem which affects hearing in people aged 30-50. Although its cause is yet unknown, it can cause sensorineural hearing loss, dizziness, ringing in the ears and increased sensitivity to sound. This type of hearing loss can become permanent over time.

Always seek advice if you are experiencing difficulty with your hearing.

According to Deafhear.ie, one in six people in Ireland have some degree of hearing loss, with approximately one in a thousand being profoundly deaf. While there are currently 70,000 people of working age experiencing varying levels of hearing loss in Ireland, unfortunately hearing loss is a condition which worsens with age unless preventative measures are taken.

Ear infections can cause a temporary hearing loss which resolves when the infection clears. Chronic, repeated ear infections can in some cases lead to permanent hearing difficulties.

Hearing problems can be caused by a large variety of different causes, which are either intrinsic (originating in the body), extrinsic (caused by external factors) or idiopathic (of unknown causes). One intrinsic cause of hearing loss is genetic, meaning that a gene or genetic mutation either directly causes the hearing loss or causes a syndrome or condition of which hearing loss is one symptom. Some genetic causes of hearing loss can be hereditary, i.e. passed down from one’s parents and developed while the baby is in the womb.

Most cases of tinnitus result from sensorineural or conductive hearing losses, and people with a history of noise exposure are more likely to experience tinnitus. In a minority of cases (10-15%) people with tinnitus have normal audiometric results; however, there is growing evidence that many in this group may in fact have a sensorineural hearing loss which is not picked up on in standard hearing tests. Some other less common potential causes of tinnitus, especially for those with normal audiometric results, include head injury and abnormal somatosensory activity.

There are many different potential causes of dizziness, some of which originate in or impact the Vestibular System (or the systems in our body which regulate our balance). As the Vestibular System is part of the inner ear, some vestibular-related causes of dizziness can also affect our hearing. Hearing loss in and of itself cannot cause dizziness, but both can be symptoms of the same cause. Examples of such diseases are Meniere’s Disease or Labyrinthitis which can be caused by viruses.