Hearing loss and its effects
Ignoring hearing difficulties won’t make them disappear. Since a range of factors can harm our hearing, and because hearing loss is linked to overall health and well-being, it pays to be proactive. Below, you’ll find sections on what can trigger hearing loss, how to shield your ears, ways to support someone close to you, the link between hearing loss and diabetes, and common questions.1
What causes hearing loss?
Typical triggers include:
- Natural ageing
- Repeated exposure to loud sounds
- Physical injury to the ear or head
- Viral illnesses (e.g. measles or mumps)
- Excessive earwax accumulation
- Ototoxic medications (those that can harm hearing)
- Inherited factors
The sooner you address hearing changes, the better the outcome. Unchecked hearing loss can lead to emotional strain, such as tiredness, irritation, stress or isolation.
When to seek urgent care
Contact a specialist immediately if you notice:3
- A sudden drop in hearing ability
- A sensation of fullness or “stuffy” ear
- Vertigo or loss of balance
- Persistent ringing or buzzing (tinnitus)
- A loud pop in the ear followed by hearing loss
How to protect your hearing
While you cannot prevent hearing decline due to age, damage caused by noise can often be avoided. To reduce your risk of noise-induced hearing loss:
- Limit time spent in environments with high noise levels
- Wear ear protection (earplugs or earmuffs) when necessary
- Keep headphone volumes within safe limits
Supporting someone with hearing loss
Watch for signs such as:
- Difficulty following conversations
- Frequently raising the TV volume
- Asking for repetitions (“What did you say?”)
- Retreating from social activities
When you speak with them:
- Choose a quiet, private setting
- Show empathy and patience
- Learn about hearing loss together
- Offer emotional encouragement
- Volunteer to join them at a hearing assessment
Hearing loss and diabetes
Research indicates that diabetes-related nerve damage can impair the auditory nerves, and chronically high blood sugar may disrupt blood or oxygen flow to the tiny vessels in the inner ear. Over time, this damage compromises hearing ability. As a result, people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes are about twice as likely to experience hearing loss as those without diabetes. If you have diabetes or notice any hearing changes, schedule a hearing test to enable early detection and timely intervention.
FAQs
Question 1: What are the most common warning signs of hearing loss? The most common warning signs of hearing loss include having trouble following conversations in noisy places, asking people to repeat themselves frequently, and needing to turn up the volume on the TV or radio louder than others find comfortable. Question 2: How often should I have my hearing checked? Adults under fifty with no particular risk factors should aim for a hearing check every five years, while those over fifty, or anyone exposed to loud noise, taking certain medications, or with a family history of hearing problems, should be tested each year or at the first sign of change. Question 3: What is the typical cost of hearing aids? Hearing aids range in price from about $500 per ear for basic models, $1,500, $3,000 per ear for mid-range digital devices, up to $3,000, $6,000 per ear for premium instruments with advanced noise reduction and wireless connectivity; most providers bundle fitting and follow-up care into the overall fee. Question 4: What causes ongoing ringing or buzzing in the ears? Persistent ringing or buzzing, known as tinnitus, often results from noise-related damage to inner-ear hair cells, age-related changes, earwax buildup, ototoxic medications, health conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes, and even stress or jaw disorders. Question 5: Can hearing aids alleviate tinnitus? Yes. By amplifying external sounds, hearing aids can make the internal ringing less noticeable, and many modern models include built-in sound generators or maskers designed specifically to ease the perception of tinnitus. Question 6: What happens if hearing loss goes untreated? Untreated hearing loss can lead to misunderstandings and communication breakdowns, social withdrawal, increased stress or depression, greater mental fatigue that may impair memory and thinking, and safety risks such as missing alarms or oncoming traffic.6