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Hearing loss Q&As

Published by Bupa's health information team, April 2009.

Answers to questions about hearing loss

This section contains answers to common questions about this topic. Questions have been suggested by health professionals, website feedback and requests via email.

 

My child is having trouble hearing - what could be causing it and is it likely to be permanent?

Your child may have temporary hearing loss caused by an ear infection or illness. You should visit your GP for advice and treatment. Some children are born with, or can develop, permanent hearing loss - if you're concerned that your child's hearing loss may not be temporary, you should see your GP.

Explanation

A lot of children have temporary hearing loss at some point. This is usually caused by an infection.

If your child has lost his/her hearing and has earache or discharge from his/her ear, he/she may have a middle-ear infection (acute otitis media). This is very common - eight out of 10 children will have had an ear infection by the time they are three - and your child will probably have picked it up at playgroup. You should visit your GP, who may give your child painkillers or antibiotics. Once the infection has cleared up your child's hearing should get back to normal.

Four out of five children have temporary hearing loss caused by fluid collecting behind the ear drum (tympanic membrane) - this is known as "glue ear". If your child has lost his/her hearing and is complaining of earache, he/she may have glue ear. This should disappear within three months, but it can occasionally last longer. You should visit your GP who will be able to advise you on treatment options.

Meningitis can cause permanent hearing loss in seven out of 100 children who have this illness. If your child has had meningitis and is now having hearing problems, you should visit your GP for advice.

Your child's hearing loss is probably temporary, but in some children it can become permanent. Around 840 children are born with moderate or severe deafness each year in the UK. If you had German measles (rubella) or cytomegalovirus (a common viral infection) during your pregnancy, this may have caused hearing loss in your child. Alternatively, it could be the result of problems with the birth of your baby (including premature birth), or a number of inherited conditions.

There are screening programmes that detect hearing loss soon after birth, and which continue into childhood, but these may not always be accurate. If you think your baby or child is having trouble hearing, you should visit your GP who will test your child's hearing.

If your child does have permanent hearing loss, there are a lot of treatment options available, including hearing aids and cochlear implants, which your GP will discuss with you. Deafness in children can affect their speech and cause behavioural problems, so it's best to treat it early to try and prevent this happening.

Further information

Sources

  • Simon C, Everitt, H, Kendrick T. Oxford Handbook of General Practice. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007:926-927
  • Children. Deafness Research UK. www.deafnessresearch.org.uk, accessed 17 September 2008
  • Glue ear - a sticky problem. Bandolier. www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier, accessed 17 September 2008
  • Arulkumaran S, Symonds IM, Fowlie A. Oxford Handbook of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004:92-93; 97
  • Warrell DA, Cox TM, Firth JD. Oxford Textbook of Medicine. 4th ed. Vol 3. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005:984-986
  • McMillan JA, Feigin RD, DeAngelis C, et al. Oski's Pediatrics Principles and Practice. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, 2006:2665
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I work in a noisy environment. Could this be damaging my ears and how can I protect my hearing?

Loud noises, especially when you're around them for long periods of time, can damage your hearing. You should wear ear protection whenever you're in a noisy area at work.

Explanation

If you work in a noisy place, such as a factory, building site or nightclub, your hearing is probably gradually being damaged. You may find that you have a ringing in your ears (tinnitus) or that your hearing is muffled after you leave work. These are both signs that your hearing has been affected by the loud noises around you.

Your employer should provide ear protection, usually earplugs or earmuffs, for you to wear to prevent damage to your hearing. You must wear these whenever you're in an 'ear protection zone', which should be clearly marked. If you have any problems with your ear protectors, you should tell your employer.

Your employer should also explain any possible risks to you and make efforts to reduce the levels of noise in your workplace.

Once damage has been done to your hearing it can't be reversed, so you must always wear your ear protection when you're in the ear protection zone. Removing it for even a short period of time could cause lasting damage.

You should visit your GP for advice if you have any persistent problems with your hearing.

Further information

Sources

  • How can hearing loss at work be prevented? Deafness Research UK. www.deafnessresearch.org.uk, accessed 16 September 2008
  • Simon C, Everitt, H, Kendrick T. Oxford Handbook of General Practice. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007:926-927
  • El Dib RP, Verbeek J, Atallah AN, et al. Interventions to promote the wearing of hearing protection (review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006, Issue 2. Art. No: CD005234.pub2. www.cochrane.org
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How can I stop my hearing getting worse as I get older?

Most people get a certain amount of hearing loss as they get older, but you can try to protect your hearing as much as possible by looking after your ears and avoiding loud noises.

Explanation

As you age your hearing will probably get worse - this is known as presbyacusis. This type of hearing loss is caused by damage to the tiny hair cells in your ear, which help sound to travel to your brain. You may find that your hearing gradually gets worse in both ears and you will probably have difficulty hearing high-pitched voices or people talking in noisy places.

This type of damage to your hearing is difficult to prevent as you age: up to half of all people over the age of 60 have age-related hearing loss. However, there are ways you can limit the damage.

  • Reduce your exposure to loud noises. If you work in a noisy place, you should wear ear plugs or ear muffs to protect your ears and you should try to keep the volume of any music you listen to turned down. This will help protect you against noise-induced hearing loss.
  • Middle-ear infections may contribute to age-related hearing loss. You should keep your ears clean and see your GP if you have earache, deafness or any painful discharge so this can be treated properly.
  • Certain medicines, such as diuretics, and conditions such as osteoporosis, may also contribute to hearing loss.

You should discuss any concerns you have with your GP.

Further information

Sources

  • Simon C, Everitt, H, Kendrick T. Oxford Handbook of General Practice. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007:922-927
  • Yueh B, Shapiro N, MacLean CH, et al. Screening and management of adult hearing loss in primary care. JAMA 2003; 289:1976-1985. http://jama.ama-assn.org
  • Age-related hearing loss. Deafness Research UK. www.deafnessresearch.org.uk, accessed 17 September 2008
  • How can hearing loss at work be prevented? Deafness Research UK. www.deafnessresearch.org.uk, accessed 17 September 2008
  • How can hearing loss from leisure noise be prevented? Deafness Research UK. www.deafnessresearch.org.uk, accessed 17 September 2008
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This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.

Publication date: April 2009

 

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