About 20-25 million people in the U.S. have some degree of hearing loss. Only 1 million of these people are under the age of 18 years. So most hearing loss occurs in the adult population.

Conductive hearing loss is due to the interference of sound waves through the outer and middle ear. The outer ear consists of the visible ear and ear canal. The middle ear is an air-filled cavity containing three small bones called ossicles. The middle ear is separated from the ear canal by the eardrum. This type of loss can usually be fixed with medication or surgery. Some causes of conductive hearing loss are:
* malformation, or skull fracture,
* infection,
* impacted ear wax or foreign object,
* frozen or disjointed ossicles,
* perforated ear drum, or
* a cyst or tumor.

Sensorineural hearing loss is more common in adults. This type of loss occurs when there is damage to the structures of the inner ear, or damage to the auditory nerve that sends those impulses from the inner ear to the brain. This type of hearing loss is usually not reversible, but can often be helped with hearing aids. Some causes of sensorineural hearing loss are:
* injury,
* noise,
* infection or disease,
* drugs, and
* aging.

Hearing loss can be gradual or sudden in onset, and range from mild to profound. The most common cause of hearing loss in adults is due to the natural aging process. Noise exposure is often responsible for loss of hearing, especially in the male population. Meniere's Disease is the third most common hearing disorder in adults. Symptoms include an off and on hearing loss, ringing in the ears and balance problems.

Because hearing loss is often gradual, many adults are not aware of its presence. Rather, they may feel that people just don't speak clearly. If you suspect a hearing loss, contact your health care provider. He or she may test your hearing or may refer you to an audiologist for a more comprehensive exam.

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