Symptoms

• difficulty hearing other people clearly and misunderstanding what they say, especially in noisy places
• asking people to repeat themselves
• listening to music or watching television loudly
• having to concentrate hard to hear what other people are saying, which can be tiring or stressful

The signs can be slightly different if you only have hearing loss in one ear or if a young child has hearing loss.

Diagnosis

Early detection and intervention are crucial to minimizing the impact of hearing loss on a child’s development and educational achievements. In infants and young children with hearing loss, early identification and management through infant hearing screening programmes can improve the linguistic and educational outcomes for the child. Children with deafness should be given the opportunity to learn sign language along with their families.

Pre-school, school, and occupational screening for ear diseases and hearing loss is an effective tool for early identification and management of hearing loss.

Causes

• Sudden hearing loss in one ear may be due to earwax, an ear infection, a perforated (burst) eardrum or Ménière’s disease.
• Sudden hearing loss in both ears may be due to damage from a very loud noise or taking certain medicines that can affect hearing.
• Gradual hearing loss in one ear may be due to something inside the ear, such as fluid (glue ear), a bony growth (otosclerosis) or a build-up of skin cells (cholesteatoma)
• Gradual hearing loss in both ears is usually caused by ageing or exposure to loud noises over many years. This may give you an idea of the reason for hearing loss, but endeavor to see a doctor get a proper diagnosis. It might not always be possible to identify an obvious cause.

Prevention

• Not having your television, radio, or music on too loud
• Using headphones that block out more outside noise, instead of turning up the volume 
• Wearing ear protection (such as ear defenders) if you work in a noisy environment, such as a garage workshop or a building site; special vented earplugs that allow some noise in are also available for musicians
• Using ear protection at loud concerts and other events where there are high noise levels
• Not inserting objects into your or your children’s ears – this includes fingers, cotton buds, cotton wool, and tissues

Hearing loss sometimes gets better on its own or may be treated with medicine or a simple procedure. For example, earwax can be sucked out or softened with eardrops. Other types – such as gradual hearing loss, which often happens as you get older – may be permanent. In these cases, treatment can help make the most of the remaining hearing. This may involve using:

• hearing aids – several different types are available 
• implants – devices that are attached to your skull or placed deep inside your ear, if hearing aids are not suitable

different ways of communicating – such as sign language or lip reading

People who develop hearing loss can learn to communicate through development of lip-reading skills, use of written or printed text, and sign language. Teaching in sign language will benefit children with hearing loss, while provision of captioning and sign language interpretation on television will facilitate access to information.

Officially recognizing national sign languages and increasing the availability of sign language interpreters are important actions to improve access to sign language services. Encouraging organizations of people with hearing loss, parents and family support groups; and strengthening human rights legislation can also help ensure better inclusion for people with hearing loss.