How does hearing impairment happen?
Hearing impairment can be congenital, meaning the person is born with the impairment. It can also be acquired later in life. Damage to the hearing nerves or exposure to loud sounds can cause a hearing loss. Infections or exposure to toxic substances can impair hearing. Sometimes, a simple buildup of normal earwax can impair hearing. As people get older, it becomes harder to hear certain frequencies, such as high-pitched sounds. Ringing in the ears, or tinnitus, may make it difficult to hear sounds. People with head injuries may become very sensitive to sounds and find that noise is painful to the ears. Who might get this impairment? Hearing impairment can occur at any age, even before birth. Anyone can develop a hearing impairment during his or her lifetime. Are there ways to lessen the impairment? It is possible to reduce the risk of acquiring a hearing impairment. Avoiding prolonged and repeated loud sounds is important. Keeping music volume down in the car and at home will also help
