Understanding Hearing Loss

Understanding hearing loss: the types and causes, how to read an audiogram, the degrees from mild to profound, what's preventable, and when ringing or muffled speech is worth acting on. Information only — not medical advice.

All topics Choosing & Buying Styles & Technology Understanding Hearing Loss For Family & Friends

Guide Understanding Hearing Loss What Is Age-Related Hearing Loss? Age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis, is a gradual decline that often makes higher-pitched speech sounds and conversation in noise harder to follow. It is not self-diagnosable: arrange a hearing assessment, and seek urgent medical care for a sudden, one-sided, painful, or rapidly worsening change. 5 min read · updated Oct 2026 Ask the Sherpa
Guide Understanding Hearing Loss Can Earwax Cause Hearing Loss? Impacted earwax can block the ear canal and cause reduced hearing, fullness, discomfort, tinnitus, or dizziness. Do not insert cotton swabs, tools, candles, or vacuums. Ask a pharmacist or clinician about safe options, especially with ear pain, drainage, previous ear surgery, or a possible perforated eardrum. 5 min read · updated Oct 2026 Ask the Sherpa
Guide Understanding Hearing Loss Is Sudden Hearing Loss a Medical Emergency? Treat a sudden hearing drop in one or both ears over hours or a few days as a medical emergency. Contact an urgent medical service now, even if the ear feels blocked or you suspect wax. Prompt examination and hearing testing can identify conductive loss and possible sudden sensorineural loss. 4 min read · updated Oct 2026 Ask the Sherpa
Guide Understanding Hearing Loss What Are the Types of Hearing Loss? Conductive hearing loss involves sound transmission through the outer or middle ear. Sensorineural loss involves the inner ear or hearing nerve. Mixed loss combines both. These labels do not state severity, cause, permanence, or treatment by themselves; an ear examination and audiological assessment provide the needed context. 5 min read · updated Oct 2026 Ask the Sherpa
Guide Understanding Hearing Loss What Is Tinnitus, and When Should You Seek Help? Tinnitus is hearing sound without an external source, often ringing, buzzing, humming, or roaring. Seek urgent care when it follows sudden hearing loss, serious injury, or neurological symptoms. Pulsatile, one-sided, rapidly changed, or very distressing tinnitus also needs professional assessment rather than a supplement or cure claim. 5 min read · updated Oct 2026 Ask the Sherpa
Guide Understanding Hearing Loss How to Read an Audiogram An audiogram plots pitch from low to high across the horizontal axis and the quietest level heard down the vertical axis; marks usually separate the two ears. Lower marks mean a louder sound was needed. Ask the audiologist to explain air, bone, speech, reliability, and referral findings. 5 min read · updated Aug 2026 Ask the Sherpa
Guide Understanding Hearing Loss How to Prevent Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Reduce noise at the source first, increase your distance, shorten the time exposed, and use correctly fitted hearing protection when the sound cannot be controlled. Repeated workplace exposure at 85 dBA or higher is hazardous under NIOSH guidance. Ringing or muffled hearing after noise is a warning. 5 min read · updated Aug 2026 Ask the Sherpa