Hearing is the second most important sense after vision. It’s not just about listening; our ears also help us maintain balance. A child who can’t hear usually struggles to speak, because speech is learned through listening first. Inside the ear, sound waves hit the eardrum, pass through tiny bones, and then reach a fluid-filled part called the cochlea. There, delicate nerve cells convert the vibrations into signals for the brain, which then turns them into meaningful sounds.

That’s why when you hear a foreign language, your ear still delivers the sound to your brain but since you’ve never learned it, you can’t make sense of it.

What Causes Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss, whether temporary or permanent, is often called deafness. Some people are born with it, while others develop it over time due to age, illnesses, injuries, or exposure to loud noise. Sometimes infections, untreated ear problems, or even side effects from certain medicines can damage hearing.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has set ranges for hearing ability:

• 0–20 decibels (dB): Normal hearing
• 21–40 dB: Mild hearing loss
• 41–60 dB: Moderate hearing loss
• 61–80 dB: Severe hearing loss
• 80+ dB: Profound hearing loss (complete deafness)

Even small disruptions in how sound travels like blocked ear tubes in children can lead to serious problems.

Common Risk Factors

• Ear Infections in Kids: Children are more vulnerable because their ear tubes are shorter and flatter, making it easier for bacteria or mucus to block them.
• Pregnancy Factors: If mothers take certain antibiotics or aspirin in high doses, it can negatively affect the baby’s hearing.
• Genetic Issues or Birth Defects: Some people are born with narrow ear canals, tumors, or incomplete ear development.
• Chronic Illnesses: Conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, or measles can damage hearing.
• Medications with Platinum Compounds: Some cancer drugs are known to harm hearing.
• Accidents or Loud Explosions: Sudden trauma to the ear may result in permanent hearing damage.

The Hidden Role of Technology

Studies in the UK show that excessive mobile phone use may harm hearing and even raise the risk of inner ear tumors. People who use phones for 5+ hours daily often report headaches, ringing in the ears, and difficulty hearing softer sounds.

Headphones are another growing threat. Constantly blasting music directly into your ears, especially at high volume, damages the tiny hair-like cells inside the cochlea. Once these cells die, they don’t grow back. That’s why experts warn against long-term headphone use.

How Loud Is Too Loud?

Humans can normally hear frequencies between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz. Anything louder than 85 dB for extended periods is dangerous. For example:

• Washing machines and vacuum cleaners: below 85 dB (safe)
• Traffic or loud music: around 100 dB (risky after 2 hours)
• Explosions or gunshots: 150–180 dB (instant hearing damage)

And remember, the decibel scale isn’t linear it’s exponential. 30 dB is actually 1,000 times louder than 1 db.

Protecting Your Ears

• Don’t poke inside your ears with needles or sticks; earwax actually protects your ear canal.
• Use tissue or a towel to dry ears after a shower, instead of digging inside.
• Limit headphone use and keep the volume at 60% or lower.
• Take breaks from noisy environments whenever possible.
• Seek medical help quickly for any infection or pain.

FAQs on Hearing Loss

1. Can loud music really cause permanent hearing loss?
Yes. Long exposure to music above 85 dB damages inner ear cells permanently.

2. Do headphones cause more harm than speakers?
Headphones direct sound waves straight into your ear canal, making them riskier.

3. At what age does hearing loss usually start?
Age-related hearing loss often begins after 50, but lifestyle and health factors can speed it up.

4. Can hearing loss be reversed?
Temporary loss from infections or blockages can be treated, but permanent damage usually cannot.

5. What are the first signs of hearing loss?
Difficulty following conversations in noise, asking people to repeat themselves, and ringing in the ears (tinnitus).