Can hearing loss lead to deafness?

Although the nature of hearing loss can change over time, deafness is generally not the ultimate result.

There are some important differences between deafness and hearing loss. Deafness is defined as having little to no hearing whereas hearing loss is a broad term encompassing all degrees of hearing impairment. Those who are deaf often rely heavily on lip-reading and/or sign language to communicate and those who have hearing loss often experience difficulty understanding conversations, especially in places with loud background noise. Hearing sound isn’t necessarily the issue in this instance.

Hearing loss, especially sensorineural types such as age-related hearing loss, can get progressively worse over time, but it usually plateaus after a certain hearing threshold. Other forms of hearing loss, such as those that involve permanent damage to a crucial part of the auditory system, can result in deafness. In summary, the type of hearing loss you have can determine whether your hearing loss will result in deafness or not. Most hearing loss cases do not result in deafness and can be treated with the right hearing solutions.

The only way to know the status of your hearing health is to book a hearing appointment with a hearing professional. A hearing professional will sit down with you, answer all your hearing health questions, and evaluate the type of hearing loss you may have. They will also prescribe a treatment tailored to your hearing health needs. Request an appointment through the Campaign for Better Hearing today to begin your hearing health journey!