What is the most common cause of hearing loss?

The most common cause of hearing loss is sensory loss, also referred to as sensorineural hearing loss. This type of hearing loss occurs due to damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or the auditory nerve pathways. Sensory loss can be attributed to various factors, including age-related changes (presbycusis), exposure to loud noise, infections, and certain medications that can be ototoxic.

While conduction loss, which involves problems in the outer or middle ear that prevent sound from being efficiently transmitted to the inner ear, does occur, it is less prevalent as a cause of hearing loss compared to sensory loss. Genetic factors certainly play a role in some cases of hearing loss, but the majority of hearing impairment, especially among older adults, is linked to the gradual degeneration of sensory cells in the cochlea. Additionally, noise exposure is a significant risk factor that can lead to sensory hearing loss, especially in individuals who are frequently exposed to harmful sound levels.

Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why sensory loss stands out as the most common cause of hearing loss in the general population.