Age

The most common cause of hearing loss, by far, is age – called age-related hearing loss or presbycusis. Most people will suffer some degree of age-related hearing loss, beginning around the age of 40, with the degree of hearing loss worsening as we age. According to NHS, most people have developed significant hearing loss by the age of 80.

With age-related hearing loss, high-frequency sounds become difficult to hear or discern, and certain consonants, such as “s,” “f” and “th,” become difficult to hear, which can make understanding conversations with background noise quite difficult.

Noise

Chronic exposure to loud noises is another common cause of hearing loss. This type of hearing loss, known as noise-induced hearing loss, is caused by the hair cells in the inner ear becoming damaged. This type of hearing loss often affects people who work in noisy environments, such as factories or construction, or in concert venues or nightclubs. It’s also a common result of listening to high-volume music through headphones.

While this form of hearing loss is commonly the result of people who are exposed to loud noises over a long period of time, it also can happen suddenly as a result of being exposed to an exceptionally loud noise, such as an explosion. This sudden hearing loss is called acoustic trauma. Other traumas, such as head injuries, can result in hearing loss.

Genetics

Sensorineural hearing loss can be the result of genetic abnormalities, in which people are born deaf or become deaf as a result of genetics.