Hearing Loss

Hearing loss, impairment or deafness may be of two major types: one that develops some time in life, one that a baby is born with – or congenital deafness. Most commonly, hearing loss is seen with age or is caused by exposure to loud noises.

What is hearing loss?

More than 10 million people in the United Kingdom have some form of hearing loss. Of these about 688,000 are severely or profoundly deaf.

Types of Hearing Loss

Causes of Hearing Loss

Symptoms and Diagnosis of Hearing Loss

Treatment of hearing loss

Preventing Noise-induced Hearing Loss

Age-Related Hearing Loss (ARHL) / Presbycusis

Hearing Loss Research

Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL)

Conductive Hearing Loss

Newborn Hearing Screening

Dealing with Hearing Loss

See more featured articles »

Hearing Loss and Genetics

Recent Developments in Hearing Technology

What is Safe Listening?

Latest Hearing Loss News and Research

Terahertz imaging reveals cochlear structures with high resolution

Researchers have discovered a groundbreaking use of terahertz (THz) imaging to visualize cochlear structures in mice, offering non-invasive, high-resolution diagnostics. By creating 3D reconstructions, this technology opens new possibilities for diagnosing hearing loss and other conditions.

27 Mar 2025

Transforming genetic deafness treatment with base editing

Congenital hearing loss refers to impaired auditory function that occurs due to genetic causes. GJB2 is the gene responsible for approximately half of all cases of hereditary hearing loss.

27 Mar 2025

Clinical trial of vaccine candidate to prevent Lassa fever begins enrollment

A National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored clinical trial of a candidate vaccine to prevent Lassa fever has begun enrolling participants at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore.

17 Mar 2025

New flexible hearing aid offers non-invasive solution for conductive hearing loss

A study from researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine highlights a new approach in addressing conductive hearing loss. A team of scientists, led by Mohammad J. Moghimi, Ph.D., assistant professor of biomedical engineering, designed a new type of hearing aid that not only improves hearing but also offers a safe, non-invasive alternative to implantable devices and corrective surgeries.

13 Mar 2025

Study reveals key insights for preventing cytomegalovirus spread to fetuses

A new Weill Cornell Medicine and Oregon Health & Science University co-authored study provides critical insight for the development of a vaccine that can more effectively block the spread of cytomegalovirus, or CMV, across the placenta to babies before they are born.

12 Mar 2025

Understanding the benefits and risks of hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is well known for treating scuba and deep-sea divers affected by the rapid change in pressure around them. But did you know that HBOT is also used to treat a variety of other health problems, including carbon monoxide poisoning and diabetic foot ulcers?

28 Feb 2025

New imaging tool reveals the brain's role in cochlea sensitivity

The brain may play a role in helping the ear regulate its sensitivity to sound and compensate for hearing loss by sending a signal to a structure in the inner ear known as the cochlea, according to a study that was just published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

24 Feb 2025

CMV infection found to worsen necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants

Researchers say they found that infection with a common virus that can be transmitted from mother to fetus before birth significantly worsens an often-fatal complication of premature birth called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in experiments with mice.

24 Feb 2025

Texas measles outbreak nears 100 cases, raising concerns about undetected spread

Some private schools have shut down because of a rapidly escalating measles outbreak in West Texas. Local health departments are overstretched, pausing other important work as they race to limit the spread of this highly contagious virus.

21 Feb 2025

The dangers of fraudulent diabetes products and how to avoid them

As the number of people diagnosed with diabetes continues to grow, an increasing number of products marketed under the guise of "dietary supplements" or "over-the-counter drugs" promising to prevent, treat, and even cure diabetes are being sold illegally.

21 Feb 2025

New clinical trial seeks alternatives for head and neck cancer patients unable to use cisplatin

A physician-scientist at the University of Oklahoma is part of an international effort seeking new options for patients with head and neck cancer who cannot receive the standard chemotherapy drug cisplatin.

21 Feb 2025

Cancer-free for 18 years: CAR-T therapy sets new milestone in neuroblastoma treatment

A groundbreaking study in Nature Medicine reveals that GD2 CAR-T cell therapy can lead to long-term remission in children with neuroblastoma, with one patient remaining cancer-free for over 18 years.

17 Feb 2025

Social and health disparities drive brain aging in Latin America

In Brazil, education emerges as the top factor influencing cognitive decline, revealing significant health disparities affecting brain health in Latin America.

6 Feb 2025

New Kids First datasets offer insights into genetics of childhood disorders

The new Kids First datasets advance our understanding of how genetics contribute to childhood cancers and congenital disorders, opening new doors for prevention and treatment.

5 Feb 2025

New video series developed to offer support for parents of children with mild hearing loss

Aston University's Dr. Amanda Hall and Dr. Helen Pryce have helped to develop a new series of videos to offer guidance and support to parents of very young children diagnosed with mild hearing loss or hearing loss on only one side.

4 Feb 2025

U.S. dementia cases expected to surge with aging population

A new study shows that the risk of developing dementia anytime after age 55 among Americans is 42%, more than double the risk reported by older studies.

13 Jan 2025

Totally implantable cochlear implant promises a new era of hearing restoration

Scientists have developed a totally implantable cochlear implant that delivers hearing performance comparable to conventional devices while improving quality of life and eliminating the need for external components.

12 Jan 2025

Aircraft noise pollution harms arteries, but heart drugs show promise in animal model research

Alpha- and beta-blockers reduce oxidative stress and inflammation caused by aircraft noise but fail to prevent hypertension, highlighting their potential to protect vascular health in noise-exposed individuals.

9 Jan 2025

Decades of research push cytomegalovirus vaccine closer to reality

Researchers review decades of progress in human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) vaccine development, emphasizing challenges, innovative platforms, and the critical need for effective prevention strategies.

6 Jan 2025

Brain's dual role in processing touch and hearing revealed

Ludwig van Beethoven began to lose his hearing at age 28 and was deaf by age 44. While the cause of his hearing loss remains a topic of scientific debate and ongoing revision, one thing is clear: Despite his hearing loss, Beethoven never ceased to compose music, likely because he was able to sense the vibrations of musical instruments and "hear" music through the sense of touch, researchers believe.

19 Dec 2024