Hearing Loss: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Sumiran Racherla, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Hearing Loss?
An audiologist, a hearing specialist who tests hearing and fits hearing devices, and an otolaryngologist (an ENT, a doctor who treats ear, nose, and throat problems) usually care for hearing loss. Your primary care doctor can do a first hearing check and refer you. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is hearing loss?
Hearing loss means being partly or totally unable to hear sound in one or both ears. There are three main types.
- Conductive hearing loss happens when sound waves cannot reach the inner ear. Earwax, fluid, or a hole in the eardrum may block the path.
- Sensorineural hearing loss, also called nerve deafness, happens when the inner ear or the hearing nerve is damaged. It ranges from mild to profound, which means not hearing any sound.
- Mixed hearing loss is a combination of both types.
About one-third of adults over the age of 65 have some hearing loss, usually the sensorineural type.
Symptoms
Signs of hearing loss can include:
- Trouble hearing over the phone.
- Trouble understanding what people say, especially in a noisy place.
- Turning up the TV so loud that others complain.
- Thinking that others always mumble.
- Trouble telling high-pitched sounds, such as "s" or "th", apart.
- Ringing or buzzing in the ears, called tinnitus.
Many older adults with hearing loss avoid social events, which can lead to isolation and depression. Treating hearing loss can help prevent these problems.
Causes and who gets it
Conductive hearing loss comes from a problem in the outer or middle ear. Its causes can often be treated. They include earwax buildup, fluid left after an ear infection, a hole in the eardrum, and an object stuck in the ear canal.
Sensorineural hearing loss often cannot be reversed. It is commonly caused by aging, regular exposure to loud noise, and use of certain medicines. Childhood infections such as meningitis, mumps, scarlet fever, and measles can also cause it. So can Meniere disease, an inner ear disorder, and an acoustic neuroma, a tumor on the hearing nerve.
Some people are born with hearing loss. Causes include birth defects of the ear, genetic conditions, and infections a mother passes to her baby during pregnancy.
How doctors diagnose it
Your provider will take your medical history and do a physical exam. A primary care provider may first do a whisper test, which checks how well you hear whispered words in each ear. You may then see an audiologist or an ENT for more tests, such as:
- A pure-tone test. You wear headphones and signal each time you hear a tone. It finds the quietest sounds you can hear at different pitches.
- A speech test. You repeat words you hear, some of them spoken over noise.
- Tympanometry. It checks how your eardrum and middle ear bones are working.
A hearing test needs no special preparation and carries no risk.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the type of hearing loss. For conductive hearing loss, a provider may be able to treat the cause and restore hearing. This may mean removing wax, draining fluid, or surgery to fix the eardrum or the ear bones.
Sensorineural hearing loss cannot be treated in the same way. Still, you may be able to use hearing aids or have surgery to place a device that improves hearing.
- A hearing aid is worn behind or inside the ear and makes sounds louder. Over-the-counter hearing aids are for mild or moderate hearing loss. Prescription hearing aids may be needed for more severe loss.
- A cochlear implant is placed with surgery. It is used for people who have lost too much hearing to benefit from a hearing aid. It does not restore normal hearing.
When to see a doctor
Sudden hearing loss needs a doctor right away. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) says to treat sudden deafness as a medical emergency.
Contact your provider if hearing problems get in the way of daily life, do not go away, get worse, or are worse in one ear than the other. Also call if you have ear pain, or new headaches, weakness, or numbness anywhere on your body.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if hearing loss comes with sudden dizziness or weakness, a sudden change in vision, or you cannot speak.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Either kind of doctor can review your symptoms and check your ears. They can also arrange a hearing test with an audiologist or an ENT and follow up after you start using a hearing device.
Common questions
Can hearing loss be reversed?
It depends on the type. Conductive hearing loss can often be treated, so hearing may come back. Sensorineural hearing loss often cannot be reversed, but hearing aids or other devices can help.
What does an audiologist do?
An audiologist is a health care professional trained to test your hearing, diagnose hearing loss, and provide hearing devices and services to improve hearing.
Do cochlear implants restore normal hearing?
No. Cochlear implants do not restore normal hearing.
Is sudden hearing loss an emergency?
Yes. The NIDCD says to treat sudden deafness as a medical emergency and see a doctor right away. About half of people recover some or all of their hearing on their own, but delayed treatment can work less well.
Sources
- MedlinePlus - Hearing loss
- MedlinePlus - Hearing Tests for Adults
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders - Sudden Deafness
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
