Common Causes of
Hearing Loss
External Ear-
- wax or foreign body in canal
- swelling of canal (inflammation or
infection)
Middle Ear-
- significant scarring or perforation of
eardrum
- Eustachian tube dysfunction
- infections (ie. otitis media), colds
& respiratory infections
- dislocation or adhesions of ossicular
chain (3 ear bones in middle ear)
- otosclerosis (stapes immobilized in oval
window)
Inner Ear-
- noise (occupational & recreational)
- presbycusis (hearing loss due to aging)
- heredity
- ototoxic drugs
- infections (ie. meningitis)
- trauma
- Meniere's Disease
- childhood diseases (ie. German Measles
& viruses)
Cranial Nerve & Central Auditory
Pathways-
- presbycusis
- trauma
- infections
- ototoxic drugs
- tumor (space occupying & vascular)
Signs
of Hearing Loss 