Hearing loss affects more than just your ability to pick up sounds around you. It can make work meetings feel stressful when you’re not sure if you caught all the important details, or leave you feeling left out during family dinners when conversations move too quickly to follow. You might find yourself nodding along to conversations you didn’t fully hear or avoiding social situations because they’ve become too difficult to manage.
The hearing instrument specialists at Hearing is Us understand these daily challenges and provide comprehensive hearing care services designed to help you regain confidence in these everyday interactions. From testing services to identification of hearing loss, our goal is to help you feel comfortable during all the conversations that matter most to you.
Types of Hearing Loss
Not all hearing loss is the same. There are three primary types that affect the hearing system in different ways: conductive, sensorineural and mixed. Each type has its own causes and treatment considerations, so identifying the specific nature of the loss is a key step in figuring out what kind of support is needed.
Conductive hearing loss happens when sound is blocked or reduced before it reaches the inner ear. This can be due to problems in the ear canal, eardrum or middle ear, such as fluid, earwax buildup or issues with the small bones that help transmit sound. Even though it interferes with how clearly you hear, it typically does not affect the inner ear or auditory nerve directly.
Sensorineural hearing loss involves the inner ear or the nerve pathways to the brain. It is often caused by damage to the tiny hair cells in the cochlea or the auditory nerve itself. This type of hearing loss can make speech seem distorted or unclear and is usually permanent.
Mixed hearing loss is a combination of both types and includes issues in multiple parts of the hearing system. In these cases, treatment may involve a blend of medical care and hearing technology, depending on what is contributing to the problem.
Common Causes
The causes of hearing loss vary widely, from unavoidable factors like genetics and aging to preventable ones like noise exposure. Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) affects one in three people over 65, as the inner ear naturally deteriorates over time. Noise-induced hearing loss can occur at any age from prolonged exposure to sounds over 85 dBs or sudden exposure to extremely loud sounds.
Medical conditions significantly impact hearing health. Diabetes doubles your risk of hearing loss by affecting blood vessels in the inner ear. Cardiovascular disease reduces crucial blood flow to hearing structures. Autoimmune disorders, Meniere’s disease and even severe ear infections can cause permanent damage. Certain medications, known as ototoxic drugs, include some antibiotics, chemotherapy agents and high doses of aspirin that may harm hearing.
What Are the Impacts of Untreated Hearing Loss?
When hearing loss goes unaddressed, the effects often extend far beyond conversation. Straining to make sense of sounds can leave you feeling physically drained, especially in environments with competing noise. Tasks that once felt simple may start to feel overwhelming. This ongoing effort does not just tire you out, it also affects how your brain processes information and allocates focus, sometimes interfering with memory, balance or concentration.
Socially, the changes can be just as significant. Misunderstandings become more common, and moments that used to bring joy, like meals with friends or casual conversations, start to feel difficult or frustrating. Over time, it is easy to begin stepping back from these interactions. That quiet distancing can take an emotional toll, making you feel less involved, less confident and more disconnected from the people and routines you care about most.
There are also practical concerns, particularly at work or in situations that require awareness of your surroundings. Missing out on instructions, important conversations or alerts can affect how you perform and how safe you feel. Whether it is missing a comment in a meeting or not catching a warning sound at home or outside, untreated hearing loss has a way of quietly shaping your daily experience in ways that build over time.