Hearing loss: causes, tests and what helps

What causes hearing loss?

Gradual hearing loss in both ears is usually linked to ageing or to damage from loud noise over many years. Earwax, ear infections and a perforated eardrum are other common causes. Sensorineural hearing loss involves damage to the inner ear or the nerve pathway to the brain, while conductive loss means sound is blocked in the outer or middle ear, for example by earwax, fluid or infection.

When should someone see a GP, and what happens?

Some pharmacies and opticians also offer a free hearing test. A GP can check for problems such as earwax or infection and may refer to an audiologist for further tests. If the GP finds no obvious cause, they should refer the person to an NHS audiologist for a full hearing assessment. In a common hearing test, the person wears headphones, hears sounds at different levels and presses a button each time they hear one. The test shows which pitches are affected and by how much.

What if hearing is lost suddenly?

The NHS says to ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 for sudden hearing loss in one or both ears. If neither is reachable, the nearest accident and emergency department is the route. Sudden hearing loss can be permanent, and treatment given early can reduce that risk. For sudden sensorineural loss the cause is often never found, and the usual treatment is steroids, which are most likely to help when given soon after the loss starts.

What helps with permanent hearing loss and tinnitus?

For tinnitus, the first person to speak to is the GP, who can check the ears for treatable causes and may refer to a specialist. Treatable causes such as earwax or infection can often be dealt with by a GP, while permanent loss is usually managed with hearing aids. Hearing aids do not make hearing perfect, but they make sounds louder and clearer, and NHS hearing aids are free.