Overview
Hearing loss ranges from mild difficulty following conversation to profound deafness, and can come from wax blockage, infections, noise damage or ageing. In children, even mild loss delays speech and learning, so early testing matters. Many causes are treatable, and hearing aids transform the rest.
Symptoms
- Asking people to repeat themselves
- Turning the TV or radio louder than others like
- Difficulty following conversation in noise
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- A blocked sensation in the ear
- A child not startling, responding to name or speaking on time
Causes & risk factors
- Wax blockage
- Untreated or repeated ear infections
- Loud noise — generators, music, industrial work
- Ageing
- Some infections and medicines damaging the inner ear
- Birth-related causes in children
Treatment & self-care
An ENT examination and hearing test identify the cause: wax is safely removed in clinic, infections are treated, and lasting loss is helped enormously with properly fitted hearing aids. Children with suspected loss need urgent testing — speech development depends on it. Protect remaining hearing by limiting noise and never inserting objects into the ear.
See a doctor urgently if
- Sudden hearing loss in one or both ears — within 48 hours
- Hearing loss with ear pain, discharge or dizziness
- A child with delayed speech or poor response to sound
- Gradual loss now affecting daily conversation