Hearing Loss

Causes & Prevention

How To Protect Your Hearing from Loud Noise

According to the Better Hearing Institute, hearing loss is one of the most common occupational illnesses in the United States, and noise is one of its most common causes.

Dangerous levels of noise come from two main sources:

Risk Factors for Hearing Loss in Adults and Children

There are a few known risk factors for adult hearing loss:

  • Diabetes
  • Blood vessel disorders, including high blood pressure and arteriosclerosis
  • A tumor or a blood clot that affects the hearing part of the brain or the auditory nerves

Causes and Types of Hearing Loss

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are various reasons for loss of hearing:

  • Age
  • Disease
  • Drugs
  • Infections
  • Malformation
  • Noise
  • Perforation

What Does It Mean When Medical Experts Say "Race" Is A Risk Factor For Certain Diseases?

Editor's Note:

"Race" is sometimes mentioned as a risk factor in the development of certain cancers and a number of other diseases. When you read this in a discussion about an illness, note that the explanation seldom refers to anything biological. Instead, it usually refers to behavior, such as eating habits. The kinds of behavior usually mentioned as risk factors are culturally determined. They are not genetic or biological.