Many people often think of hearing loss as something that either occurs just after birth or as a natural part of the aging process. But there are actually a number of other things that can lead to various degrees of hearing loss in adults of all ages.

One of the most common reasons adults believe that they are suffering from a reduction in the ability to hear properly is simply a buildup of the natural waxes produced by the ear canal. The blockage stops sound waves from reaching the inner workings of the ear efficiently, resulting in muffled or decreased hearing. This problem is of course quite easily solved by cleaning out the ears regularly, but carefully. A misplaced Q Tip has been known to pierce the sensitive ear drum on a number of occasions)

Certain medications can also result in a more permanent hearing loss. Some antibiotics, diuretics and cancer drugs have all been shown the damage the delicate workings of the human ear. And for reasons that science has yet to be able to adequately explain both children and adults who suffer from kidney problems are more likely to experience hearing loss.

Then there is the matter of noise. Noise related hearing loss is the most common found in adults. Of course there is noise around everyone at all times, and for the most part it causes no harm. But continued exposure to particularly load noises, anything over 85 decibels (which is about as loud as heavy city traffic in places like New York) can lead to a form of gradual hearing loss which is clinically known as noise induced hearing loss. This is why a number of veteran rock musicians lose their hearing as they get older; the average concert speaker puts out a noise level of 90 decibels and above.

The increased use of personal music devices like the Ipod is also blamed for cases of adult hearing loss. At maximum volume the tiny looking Ipod Nano is actually flooding its user’s ears with an astonishing 120 decibels of sound. Considering that the “noisiest concert” record is held by Kiss, whose sound level was measured at 136 decibels at a concert in 2009 before police officials made the band turn the amps down you can see how continued use of an IPod at its highest setting could quickly damage hearing.

There is a continuing debate as to whether or not habitual cell phone use can cause hearing damage. A 2007 study suggested that those who use their cell phones at for at least one hour every day are at higher risk for high frequency hearing loss than those who do not, but the study was not considered to be conclusive.