The two most common causes of hearing loss are noise exposure (Noise-induced hearing loss or NIHL) and aging (presbycusis). Other causes include:

  • Ototoxic medications
  • Frequent ear infections, including those caused by swimmer’s ear
  • Head or ear injuries
  • Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke (in children)
  • Meniere’s disease, other diseases and illness, and growths

Recent research from the Columbia University Medical Center indicates that you can add adolescent obesity to that list. A new study of 1,500 adolescents, ranging in age from 12 to 19, showed that teens who are obese are twice as likely to suffer from one-sided low-frequency hearing loss.

Low-frequency hearing loss can have an impact on a person’s ability to hear in loud environments or group settings. Experts contribute the hearing loss as a result of organ damage due to obesity-induced inflammation. Early intervention and a healthier lifestyle may prevent hearing loss progression.

Do you have symptoms of hearing loss, such as asking others to repeat themselves, turning up the television volume, missing parts of conversations? Schedule an appointment at any one of our three locations, in Clifton Springs, Pittsford and Canandaigua.