Some types of hearing loss are preventable.  Avoidable hearing loss can be due to noise, toxins and injury. 

The auditory system is one of the human body's most complex and delicate sensory systems, and a variety of factors can cause damage or malfunction.  Hearing loss can be caused by:

•         Heredity

•         Age

•         Ear abnormalities such as an underdeveloped outer ear, a narrowing of the ear canal or complete absence    of the ear canal, and abnormalities in the hair cells of the organ of Corti in the cochlea.

•         Excessive noise exposure

•         Ototoxic drugs or chemicals, such as chemotherapy agents, cardiac medications and antibiotics.  

•         Changes in the blood supply to the ear because of heart disease, high blood pressure, blood vessel conditions caused by diabetes, or other circulatory problems

•         Hormonal imbalances and declines

•         Specific illnesses, such as measles and mumps

•         Infections

•         Skull (temporal bone) fractures

•         Traumatic brain injury

Hearing loss can be inherited from one or both parents who may or may not have a loss of hearing themselves.  Of all the children born deaf each year, more than half have a hereditary disorder. However, not all hereditary hearing loss is present at birth. You may inherit the tendency to acquire hearing loss later in life.  In fact, there's a strong genetic component in age-related hearing loss.  This type of loss generally affects both ears equally, and tends to make it difficult to hear the higher frequencies, which can affect our ability to understand speech clearly or to hear common sounds such as doorbells, the telephone and emergency sirens.  Unfortunately, genetics "are what they are" and hereditary hearing loss can't be prevented.

Preventable Hearing Loss
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the largest category of hearing impairment that's entirely avoidable.  Both repeated episodes of excessive noise and severe one-time events can cause harm.   The bad news is that once exposed to very loud noises, the damage is done.   The good news is that it's not that difficult to prevent noise-induced hearing loss in the first place.  What's too loud?  Any sounds in excess of 85 dB (decibels).  In practical terms, if you have to raise your voice to be heard from three feet away, the noise level is too loud.  The dB levels of some common sounds are:

• Normal breathing 10 dB
• Whisper 20 dB
• Normal conversation 40 to 65 dB
• Vacuum cleaner / hair dryer 70 dB
• City traffic 80 dB
• Lawn mower / New York City Subway 90 dB
• Chain saw 110 dB
• Rock concert 110 dB
• Snowmobile 120 dB
• Firecrackers 140 dB 

To prevent noise-induced hearing loss:

• Be aware of the sound levels to which you're exposing your ears.

• Whenever possible, reduce noise at its source.  Keep the volume low when using earphones or car stereos (noise is accentuated in enclosed spaces, such as a car).

• Wear safety approved hearing protection such as ear muffs and/or ear plugs in noisy environments.  This includes movie theaters, concerts and sporting events.  Disposable and custom-fitted earplugs can provide 20 to 40 decibels of protection when used correctly.

• If you're caught without ear plugs or muffs, cover your ears with your hands. 

• Educate your children about the danger of loud music and other noises.

• Get regular screening, particularly if you're in a high-risk job or participate in a high-risk hobby.

For other potential hearing loss factors:

• If you have a sudden severe hearing loss, see your doctor right away.  If you have some hearing loss, and your hearing doesn't return to normal within two days, see your doctor for a rapid treatment that can prevent permanent damage.

• Lead a healthy lifestyle.  Follow a diet that protects your circulatory system and includes antioxidants, and abstain from caffeine and nicotine.

• Don't blow your nose too hard. It's better to gently blow one nostril at a time.

• Don't put cotton-tipped swabs, fingers or anything else into the ear canal.

• Make sure children never cuff each other on the ears.

• Get proper immunizations for measles and other diseases.

• Act on ear infections.  If you or your child has an earache, see your doctor.

• During high speed water sports like water skiing, wear a swim cap or approved swimmer's earplugs.

• Avoid flying if you have a heavy cold.

• Follow your doctor's advice for medical conditions that can cause hearing loss, such as high blood pressure and Ménière's disease.

• If possible, avoid prolonged use of medications that can cause hearing loss, for example, some antibiotics.

• Get regular hearing tests, especially from age 60 on.  If you have a hearing loss, continue to be monitored annually; if you don't have a hearing loss, every five years is generally adequate.

Learn more about Hearing Loss:

Key Point 1:  Normal hearing requires all components of the physical hearing chain to be functioning properly.  Any breakdown or impairment in that chain, from ear to brain, may result in a loss of hearing acuity.

Key Point 3:  There are personal and societal implications to hearing loss.  However, there are good treatments available, including hearing aids, cochlear implants and surgery.  Technology is constantly improving.