Inherited malformations of the inner ear can either cause hearing loss at birth or else a progressive hearing loss later in life. Some inherited causes of hearing loss are associated with other inherited abnormalities, such as eye problems, heart abnormalities, or abnormalities of other body systems, but the majority of people with inherited hearing loss have no other abnormalities. A very common cause of sensorineural hearing loss is exposure to loud noises. This type of hearing loss results from long-term exposure to noise, such as in coal mines, factories, or from shooting guns or listening to loud music. As a general rule if your ears are ringing after you leave a noisy environment, the sound could be damaging to your inner ears.
Ear muffs or ear plugs can protect the individual from inner ear damage in most circumstances.
The aging process can also result in hearing loss. Part of the hearing loss seen in old age is probably due to the long-term effects of noise exposure in our industrialized society. Elderly people in primitive societies usually do not exhibit the same degree of hearing loss as is seen in industrialized countries. A number of other conditions, such as Meniere's disease, sudden sensorineural hearing loss, and head injuries can cause sensorineural hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss can also result from diseases that affect the auditory nerve that connects the hair cells to the brain.