BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuHearing lossDecreased hearing; Deafness; Loss of hearing; Conductive hearing loss; Sensorineural hearing loss; PresbycusisHearing loss is being partly or totally unable to hear sound in one or both ears. Considerations Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersSymptoms of hearing loss may include:Certain sounds seem overly loud in one ear Difficulty following conversations when two or more people are talking Difficulty hearing in noisy areas Trouble telling high-pitched sounds (such as "s" or "th") from one another Less trouble hearing men's voices than women's voices Hearing voices as mumbled or slurred Associated symptoms may include:Feeling of being off-balance or dizzy (more common with Ménière disease and acoustic neuroma) Ménière diseaseMénière disease is an inner ear disorder that affects balance and hearing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Acoustic neuromaAn acoustic neuroma is a slow-growing tumor of the nerve that connects the ear to the brain. This nerve is called the vestibular cochlear nerve. It...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Feeling of pressure in the ear (in the fluid behind the eardrum) Ringing or buzzing sound in the ears (tinnitus) TinnitusTinnitus is the medical term for "hearing" noises in your ears. It occurs when there is no outside source of the sounds. Tinnitus is often called "r...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Conductive hearing loss (CHL) occurs because of a mechanical problem in the outer or middle ear. This may be because:Sound is not reaching the eardrum. The eardrum is not vibrating in response to sound. The 3 tiny bones of the ear (ossicles) are not conducting sound properly.Causes of conductive hearing loss can often be treated. They include:Buildup of wax in the ear canal Damage to the very small bones (ossicles) that are right behind the eardrum Fluid remaining in the ear after an ear infection Fluid remaining in the earOtitis media with effusion (OME) is thick or sticky fluid behind the eardrum in the middle ear. It occurs without an ear infection.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ear infectionSuspected ear infections are one of the most common reasons parents take their children to the health care provider. The most common type of ear inf...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Foreign object that is stuck in the ear canal Hole in the eardrum Scar on the eardrum from repeated infections Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) occurs when the tiny hair cells (nerve endings) that detect sound in the inner ear are injured, diseased, do not work correctly, or have died. This type of hearing loss often cannot be reversed.Sensorineural hearing loss is commonly caused by:Acoustic neuroma Age-related hearing loss Age-related hearing lossAge-related hearing loss, or presbycusis, is the slow loss of hearing that occurs as people get older.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Childhood infections, such as meningitis, mumps, scarlet fever, and measles MeningitisMeningitis is an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. This covering is called the meninges.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MumpsMumps is a contagious disease that leads to painful swelling of the salivary glands. The salivary glands produce saliva, a liquid that moistens food...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Scarlet feverScarlet fever is caused by an infection with bacteria called group A streptococcus. This is the same bacteria that cause strep throat.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MeaslesMeasles is a very contagious (easily spread) illness caused by a virus.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ménière disease Regular exposure to loud noises (such as from work or recreation) Use of certain medicines Hearing loss may be present at birth (congenital) and can be due to:Birth defects that cause changes in the ear structures Genetic conditions (more than 400 are known) Infections the mother passes to her baby in the womb, such as toxoplasmosis, rubella, or herpesToxoplasmosisCongenital toxoplasmosis is a group of symptoms that occur when an unborn baby (fetus) is infected with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article RubellaCongenital rubella is a condition that occurs in an infant whose mother is infected with the virus that causes German measles. Congenital means the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article HerpesNewborn infants can become infected with herpes virus during pregnancy, during labor or delivery, or after birth.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The ear can also be injured by:Pressure differences between the inside and outside of the eardrum, often from scuba diving Pressure differences between the inside...Ear barotrauma causes discomfort in the ear due to pressure differences between the inside and outside of the eardrum. It may include damage to the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Skull fractures (can damage the structures or nerves of the ear) Trauma from explosions, fireworks, gunfire, rock concerts, and earphonesFrom explosions, fireworks, gunfire, ro...Acoustic trauma is injury to the hearing mechanisms in the inner ear. It is due to very loud noise.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Home Care You can often flush wax buildup out of the ear (gently) with ear syringes (available in drug stores) and warm water. Wax softeners (like Cerumenex) may be needed if the wax is hard and stuck in the ear.Take care when removing foreign objects from the ear. Unless it is easy to get to, have your health care provider remove the object. Don't use sharp instruments to remove foreign objects.See your provider for any other hearing loss. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if:Hearing problems interfere with your lifestyle. Hearing problems do not go away or become worse. The hearing is worse in one ear than the other. You have sudden, severe hearing loss or ringing in the ears (tinnitus). You have other symptoms, such as ear pain, along with hearing problems. Ear painAn earache is a sharp, dull, or burning pain in one or both ears. The pain may last a short time or be ongoing. Related conditions include:Otitis m...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article You have new headaches, weakness, or numbness anywhere on your body. What to Expect at Your Office Visit The provider will take your medical history and do a physical exam.Tests that may be done include:Audiometric testing (hearing tests used to check the type and amount of hearing loss) Audiometric testingAn audiometry exam tests your ability to hear sounds. Sounds vary, based on their loudness (intensity) and the speed of sound wave vibrations (tone)...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CT or MRI scan of the head (if a tumor or fracture is suspected) CTA head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRI scan of the headA head MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the brain and surrounding...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article TympanometryTympanometryTympanometry is a test used to detect problems in the middle ear.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The following surgeries may help some types of hearing loss:Eardrum repair Eardrum repairEardrum repair refers to one or more surgical procedures that are done to correct a tear or other damage to the eardrum (tympanic membrane). Ossiculo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Placing tubes in the eardrums to remove fluid Placing tubes in the eardrumsEar tube insertion involves placing tubes through the eardrums. The eardrum is the thin layer of tissue that separates the outer and middle ear. No...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Repair of the small bones in the middle ear (ossiculoplasty) The following may help with long-term hearing loss:Assistive listening devices Assistive listening devicesIf you are living with hearing loss, you know that it takes extra effort to communicate with others. There are many different devices that can improv...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Safety and alert systems for your home Hearing aids Cochlear implant Learning techniques to help you communicate Learning techniques to help you communi...If you are living with hearing loss, you know that it takes extra effort to communicate with others. There are techniques you can learn to improve co...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Sign language (for those with severe hearing loss) Cochlear implants are only used in people who have lost too much hearing to benefit from a hearing aid.Open ReferencesReferencesArts HA, Adams ME. Sensorineural hearing loss in adults. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 152.Eggermont JJ. Types of hearing loss. In: Eggermont JJ, ed. Hearing Loss. Cambridge, MA: Elsevier Academic Press; 2017:chap 5.Kerber KA, Baloh RW. Neuro-otology: diagnosis and management of neuro-otological disorders. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 22.Le Prell CG. Noise-induced hearing loss. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 154.Shearer AE, Shibata SB, Smith RJH. Genetic sensorineural hearing loss. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 150.Weinstein B. Disorders of hearing. In: Fillit HM, Rockwood K, Young J, eds. Brocklehurst's Textbook of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier, 2017:chap 96.AllVideoImagesTogHearing lossAnimation Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersHearing loss - Animation We often take for granted all of the sounds around us, the bark of a dog, the buzz of a bee, or the melody of our favorite symphony. Yet for many people, the world is a very quiet place. They've lost the ability to hear sounds in one or both ears. Let's talk about hearing loss. To understand how you lose hearing, you first need to know what normally happens inside your ear when you hear. Say that a fire engine roars past. First, the sound of the siren reaches your eardrum in your outer ear. Your eardrum vibrates, which moves three tiny bones in your middle ear. These bones push the sound along to the cochlea, a fluid-filled chamber in your inner ear. The cochlea is lined with tiny hairs that vibrate when the sound waves hit them. These hairs convert the sound waves into an electrical signal. That's when your brain realizes that a fire engine is headed toward you. Hearing loss can have many different causes. Loud noises, pressure changes while you're scuba diving, or a head injury can all damage the delicate structures in your ear that allow you to hear. Infections like measles, mumps, and meningitis can also damage the ear. Sometimes earwax can build up in your ear and block your hearing like a plug. As you get older, you may gradually lose your hearing, even if you don't have an illness or injury. When the damage or other problem is to your outer or middle ear, it's called conductive hearing loss. For example, your eardrum may not vibrate when you hear sound. Or, the tiny bones in your middle ear may not move sound to the inner ear. Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by a problem in the inner ear. Often it's because the tiny hair cells that move sound through the ear don't work right because of damage or disease, and stem cells in the ear can't keep up with the repair. If you have problems with both your inner and outer ear, then you have mixed hearing loss. So, how do you treat hearing loss? If you're noticing that voices sound fuzzy and you can't make out what people are saying, see your doctor for a hearing test. The doctor will examine your ears, and give you a test called audiometry to check the type and amount of hearing you've lost. You may also have imaging tests such as a CT or MRI scan if you've had a head injury. A hearing aid can amplify sounds to help you hear more clearly. Today's hearing aids are so small they're barely noticeable. If you have a buildup of earwax in your ear, an ear syringe filled with warm water can help flush it out. Sometimes surgery can be done to fix damage in your ear and improve your hearing. Don't accept hearing loss as an inevitable part of growing older. See your doctor for a hearing evaluation. Often, hearing loss that's due to a problem in your outer or middle ear can be reversed. Protect the hearing that you do have by avoiding loud noises, and wearing earplugs when you have to be exposed to loud sounds.Ear anatomy - illustration The ear consists of external, middle, and inner structures. The eardrum and the 3 tiny bones conduct sound from the eardrum to the cochlea.Ear anatomyillustrationHearing lossAnimation Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersHearing loss - Animation We often take for granted all of the sounds around us, the bark of a dog, the buzz of a bee, or the melody of our favorite symphony. Yet for many people, the world is a very quiet place. They've lost the ability to hear sounds in one or both ears. Let's talk about hearing loss. To understand how you lose hearing, you first need to know what normally happens inside your ear when you hear. Say that a fire engine roars past. First, the sound of the siren reaches your eardrum in your outer ear. Your eardrum vibrates, which moves three tiny bones in your middle ear. These bones push the sound along to the cochlea, a fluid-filled chamber in your inner ear. The cochlea is lined with tiny hairs that vibrate when the sound waves hit them. These hairs convert the sound waves into an electrical signal. That's when your brain realizes that a fire engine is headed toward you. Hearing loss can have many different causes. Loud noises, pressure changes while you're scuba diving, or a head injury can all damage the delicate structures in your ear that allow you to hear. Infections like measles, mumps, and meningitis can also damage the ear. Sometimes earwax can build up in your ear and block your hearing like a plug. As you get older, you may gradually lose your hearing, even if you don't have an illness or injury. When the damage or other problem is to your outer or middle ear, it's called conductive hearing loss. For example, your eardrum may not vibrate when you hear sound. Or, the tiny bones in your middle ear may not move sound to the inner ear. Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by a problem in the inner ear. Often it's because the tiny hair cells that move sound through the ear don't work right because of damage or disease, and stem cells in the ear can't keep up with the repair. If you have problems with both your inner and outer ear, then you have mixed hearing loss. So, how do you treat hearing loss? If you're noticing that voices sound fuzzy and you can't make out what people are saying, see your doctor for a hearing test. The doctor will examine your ears, and give you a test called audiometry to check the type and amount of hearing you've lost. You may also have imaging tests such as a CT or MRI scan if you've had a head injury. A hearing aid can amplify sounds to help you hear more clearly. Today's hearing aids are so small they're barely noticeable. If you have a buildup of earwax in your ear, an ear syringe filled with warm water can help flush it out. Sometimes surgery can be done to fix damage in your ear and improve your hearing. Don't accept hearing loss as an inevitable part of growing older. See your doctor for a hearing evaluation. Often, hearing loss that's due to a problem in your outer or middle ear can be reversed. Protect the hearing that you do have by avoiding loud noises, and wearing earplugs when you have to be exposed to loud sounds.Ear anatomy - illustration The ear consists of external, middle, and inner structures. The eardrum and the 3 tiny bones conduct sound from the eardrum to the cochlea.Ear anatomyillustrationSelf Care Hearing loss and musicDevices for hearing lossTalking to someone with hearing lossLiving with hearing lossRelated Information Age-related hearing loss(Condition)Alzheimer disease(Condition)Phonological disorder(Condition)Developmental reading disorder(Condition)Alzheimer disease - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 5/30/2022 Reviewed By: Josef Shargorodsky, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Hearing lossDecreased hearing; Deafness; Loss of hearing; Conductive hearing loss; Sensorineural hearing loss; PresbycusisHearing loss is being partly or totally unable to hear sound in one or both ears. Considerations Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersSymptoms of hearing loss may include:Certain sounds seem overly loud in one ear Difficulty following conversations when two or more people are talking Difficulty hearing in noisy areas Trouble telling high-pitched sounds (such as "s" or "th") from one another Less trouble hearing men's voices than women's voices Hearing voices as mumbled or slurred Associated symptoms may include:Feeling of being off-balance or dizzy (more common with Ménière disease and acoustic neuroma) Ménière diseaseMénière disease is an inner ear disorder that affects balance and hearing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Acoustic neuromaAn acoustic neuroma is a slow-growing tumor of the nerve that connects the ear to the brain. This nerve is called the vestibular cochlear nerve. It...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Feeling of pressure in the ear (in the fluid behind the eardrum) Ringing or buzzing sound in the ears (tinnitus) TinnitusTinnitus is the medical term for "hearing" noises in your ears. It occurs when there is no outside source of the sounds. Tinnitus is often called "r...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Conductive hearing loss (CHL) occurs because of a mechanical problem in the outer or middle ear. This may be because:Sound is not reaching the eardrum. The eardrum is not vibrating in response to sound. The 3 tiny bones of the ear (ossicles) are not conducting sound properly.Causes of conductive hearing loss can often be treated. They include:Buildup of wax in the ear canal Damage to the very small bones (ossicles) that are right behind the eardrum Fluid remaining in the ear after an ear infection Fluid remaining in the earOtitis media with effusion (OME) is thick or sticky fluid behind the eardrum in the middle ear. It occurs without an ear infection.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ear infectionSuspected ear infections are one of the most common reasons parents take their children to the health care provider. The most common type of ear inf...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Foreign object that is stuck in the ear canal Hole in the eardrum Scar on the eardrum from repeated infections Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) occurs when the tiny hair cells (nerve endings) that detect sound in the inner ear are injured, diseased, do not work correctly, or have died. This type of hearing loss often cannot be reversed.Sensorineural hearing loss is commonly caused by:Acoustic neuroma Age-related hearing loss Age-related hearing lossAge-related hearing loss, or presbycusis, is the slow loss of hearing that occurs as people get older.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Childhood infections, such as meningitis, mumps, scarlet fever, and measles MeningitisMeningitis is an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. This covering is called the meninges.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MumpsMumps is a contagious disease that leads to painful swelling of the salivary glands. The salivary glands produce saliva, a liquid that moistens food...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Scarlet feverScarlet fever is caused by an infection with bacteria called group A streptococcus. This is the same bacteria that cause strep throat.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MeaslesMeasles is a very contagious (easily spread) illness caused by a virus.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ménière disease Regular exposure to loud noises (such as from work or recreation) Use of certain medicines Hearing loss may be present at birth (congenital) and can be due to:Birth defects that cause changes in the ear structures Genetic conditions (more than 400 are known) Infections the mother passes to her baby in the womb, such as toxoplasmosis, rubella, or herpesToxoplasmosisCongenital toxoplasmosis is a group of symptoms that occur when an unborn baby (fetus) is infected with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article RubellaCongenital rubella is a condition that occurs in an infant whose mother is infected with the virus that causes German measles. Congenital means the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article HerpesNewborn infants can become infected with herpes virus during pregnancy, during labor or delivery, or after birth.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The ear can also be injured by:Pressure differences between the inside and outside of the eardrum, often from scuba diving Pressure differences between the inside...Ear barotrauma causes discomfort in the ear due to pressure differences between the inside and outside of the eardrum. It may include damage to the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Skull fractures (can damage the structures or nerves of the ear) Trauma from explosions, fireworks, gunfire, rock concerts, and earphonesFrom explosions, fireworks, gunfire, ro...Acoustic trauma is injury to the hearing mechanisms in the inner ear. It is due to very loud noise.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Home Care You can often flush wax buildup out of the ear (gently) with ear syringes (available in drug stores) and warm water. Wax softeners (like Cerumenex) may be needed if the wax is hard and stuck in the ear.Take care when removing foreign objects from the ear. Unless it is easy to get to, have your health care provider remove the object. Don't use sharp instruments to remove foreign objects.See your provider for any other hearing loss. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if:Hearing problems interfere with your lifestyle. Hearing problems do not go away or become worse. The hearing is worse in one ear than the other. You have sudden, severe hearing loss or ringing in the ears (tinnitus). You have other symptoms, such as ear pain, along with hearing problems. Ear painAn earache is a sharp, dull, or burning pain in one or both ears. The pain may last a short time or be ongoing. Related conditions include:Otitis m...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article You have new headaches, weakness, or numbness anywhere on your body. What to Expect at Your Office Visit The provider will take your medical history and do a physical exam.Tests that may be done include:Audiometric testing (hearing tests used to check the type and amount of hearing loss) Audiometric testingAn audiometry exam tests your ability to hear sounds. Sounds vary, based on their loudness (intensity) and the speed of sound wave vibrations (tone)...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CT or MRI scan of the head (if a tumor or fracture is suspected) CTA head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRI scan of the headA head MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the brain and surrounding...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article TympanometryTympanometryTympanometry is a test used to detect problems in the middle ear.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The following surgeries may help some types of hearing loss:Eardrum repair Eardrum repairEardrum repair refers to one or more surgical procedures that are done to correct a tear or other damage to the eardrum (tympanic membrane). Ossiculo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Placing tubes in the eardrums to remove fluid Placing tubes in the eardrumsEar tube insertion involves placing tubes through the eardrums. The eardrum is the thin layer of tissue that separates the outer and middle ear. No...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Repair of the small bones in the middle ear (ossiculoplasty) The following may help with long-term hearing loss:Assistive listening devices Assistive listening devicesIf you are living with hearing loss, you know that it takes extra effort to communicate with others. There are many different devices that can improv...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Safety and alert systems for your home Hearing aids Cochlear implant Learning techniques to help you communicate Learning techniques to help you communi...If you are living with hearing loss, you know that it takes extra effort to communicate with others. There are techniques you can learn to improve co...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Sign language (for those with severe hearing loss) Cochlear implants are only used in people who have lost too much hearing to benefit from a hearing aid.Open ReferencesReferencesArts HA, Adams ME. Sensorineural hearing loss in adults. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 152.Eggermont JJ. Types of hearing loss. In: Eggermont JJ, ed. Hearing Loss. Cambridge, MA: Elsevier Academic Press; 2017:chap 5.Kerber KA, Baloh RW. Neuro-otology: diagnosis and management of neuro-otological disorders. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 22.Le Prell CG. Noise-induced hearing loss. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 154.Shearer AE, Shibata SB, Smith RJH. Genetic sensorineural hearing loss. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 150.Weinstein B. Disorders of hearing. In: Fillit HM, Rockwood K, Young J, eds. Brocklehurst's Textbook of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier, 2017:chap 96.