Hearing Loss in Young Adults

Young adults often think that hearing loss only occurs in the elderly. Unfortunately, hearing loss in young adults is much more common than one would think. In America, 14% of the 20 - 69 year old population have some form of hearing loss.

You may be wondering 'Why am I losing my hearing so young?

The position of the ear canal and inner ear contribute to problems hearing high-frequency sounds. Also known as the cochlea, the inner ear contains hair cells and nerve endings that respond to certain pitches. Repeated exposure to loud noise eventually damages the hair cells and nerve endings. Eventually, repeated exposure makes it difficult to understand speech in noisy environments. Some of the leading causes of noise induced hearing loss include:

• Heavy traffic

• Listening to loud music through earbuds

• Noisy restaurants and bars

• Rock concerts

• Sporting events

This problem is so significant that 17 percent of young people between 12 and 19 have some degree of noise induced hearing loss.

Other common causes of hearing loss include:

• Certain Medication

• Viral Infections

• Trauma to the Ear or Head

• Impacted Wax

• Work Related Chemicals

• Middle-Ear Pathologies

Noise-induced hearing loss can be prevented. Contact us on 079 265 0487 for more information or to have your hearing tested.