Three ways hearing can be affected.
Hearing loss ranges from mild to profound and can involve one ear or both. Most cases fall into one of three categories.
Conductive
Sound gets stuck on the way in — blocked somewhere between the ear canal and the middle-ear bones, often from fluid, infection, or wax buildup.
Sensorineural
The inner ear or the nerve pathway to the brain is affected — most often from aging or long-term noise exposure.
Mixed
A combination of both — something blocks sound on the way in, while the inner ear or nerve pathway doesn't fully process what gets through.
Six everyday signs it might be time for a check.
Hearing loss usually creeps in slowly, so these signs are easy to explain away. On their own they don't confirm anything — but if a few sound familiar, it's worth getting checked.
- 1You often ask people to repeat themselves, especially in group conversations.
- 2Others mention the TV or radio is louder than they'd like it.
- 3Restaurants, parties, and other noisy places make conversation genuinely tiring.
- 4You catch yourself thinking people are mumbling more than they used to.
- 5You notice ringing, buzzing, or a persistent hiss in one or both ears.
- 6You've started avoiding phone calls or group settings without quite meaning to.
Degrees of hearing loss.
Audiologists describe hearing loss in degrees, based on the quietest sounds (in decibels, dB) a person can detect. A hearing test — not this page — is what tells you which one applies to you.
These ranges are the general classification used across the hearing care industry. They're a starting point for a conversation with your audiologist, not a self-diagnosis tool.
What tends to cause it.
Hearing loss usually traces back to aging or noise exposure, but a wide range of conditions and factors can play a part. A proper evaluation is the only way to know for sure.
Life & genetics
Environment & injury
Illness & ear conditions
Broader health
