There are many different causes of hearing loss, which can affect all ages. Some common causes are hereditary, trauma, disease, noise exposure and the aging process.

Yes. The number of weeks you are entitled to receive benefits for occupationally-induced hearing loss depends upon the amount of hearing loss attributable to the your work.

Conductive hearing loss is caused by a problem in the outer or middle ear, including eustachian tube malfunction or a defect in the ossicular chain. In most cases, conductive hearing loss affects the lower frequencies or pitches and makes it difficult to hear vowel sounds. Since vowels contain the "power of speech" the patient perceives speech and other sounds as being much "quieter" than normal. Conductive hearing loss can often be medically treated.

Of the estimated 19 million deaf and hard-of-hearing adults in the U.S., 33.7% report that their loss is due to some sort of noise (Table 12). Another 28% report that their loss is due to age, while 17.1% report that it is due to infection or injury. Only 4.4% report the presence of hearing loss at birth.

Etiology information is available for approximately one-half of the students reported to the 1992-93 Annual Survey of Hearing Impaired Children and Youth, conducted by the Center for Assessment and Demographic Studies. It is estimated that this survey represents 60-65% of the population of deaf and hard-of-hearing students in the U.S. who receive special education services.

Illnesses the mother had during pregnancy or difficulties during birth, i.e. German measles or viral infection Hereditary factors either from one or both parents. Hereditary hearing loss can also occur when there is no known family history Swimmer's ear, a painful bacterial infection that causes the ear canal to swell shut — It occurs when the ear remains wet after a bath or swimming

Ear infection or otitis media is the most frequent cause of minimal hearing loss in children. It is an inflammation in the middle ear that usually causes fluctuating hearing loss averaging 21-40dB. However, many children are born with minimal hearing loss caused by problems in the inner ear. Because these hearing losses are mild they may go undiagnosed in the early years but they can cause significant problems educationally if they are not addressed.

Conductive Hearing Loss occurs when the transmission of sound through the outer and /or middle ear is interrupted. The common causes are wax buildup in the ear canal, a perforated eardrum, fluid in the middle ear, or damaged ossicles. Sensorineural Hearing Loss occurs in the inner ear affecting the transmission of sound. Common causes are exposure to loud noise, trauma, the normal aging process, and disease. Mixed Hearing Loss occurs in the outer and/or middle ear and the inner ear.