Hearing loss is a medical disorder that affects nearly 30 million people in the United States. Impaired hearing may be caused by many things.
Older people are the largest group affected by hearing loss.
The contributors range from excessive noise, drugs, toxins, and heredity. In children, the most common cause of hearing loss is ear infections or fluid in the middle ear. Diseases and disorders that contribute to hearing loss include tinnitis, presbycusis, and Usher's syndrome, among others. In some patients, hearing loss can be surgically corrected. For others, medical devices, such as hearing aids, and rehabilitation therapies can often help reduce hearing loss.