Hearing loss may be temporary or permanent. There are several causes of hearing loss, which decide its severity. Here we are going to shed light upon the reasons behind hearing loss.

Hearing losses are categorised into 2: sensorineural and conductive. Sensorineural hearing loss is due to the damage to the delicate hair cells which are responsible for sensing the sound waves impinged on external ear. Such damage to nerve cells is due to reasons such as prolonged exposure to extremely loud noises, pressure trauma (a condition commonly found in divers), or head injury causing damage to the temporal lobe. Kidney problems and diseases like diabetes, leukaemia and sickle cell diseases are also likely to make a person prone to hearing loss. Certain antibiotics, cancer drugs and diuretics also have the same impact. Conductive hear loss is the second category, attributed to any kind of blockage in the path of sound wave to the inner ear. Any kind of obstruction by an object in the ear canal or build up of ear wax can cause this, and it can be easily treated. A disrupted tympanic membrane by use of objects or infections in middle ear cause conductive hearing impairment. Another reason is physical trauma, causing the bones in middle ear to get dislocated.