Do I have hearing loss? How to know if you're suffering from it

Hearing loss is more common than many people realize, with up to 15% of American adults having some trouble hearing. But there are many types of hearing loss and even a wide range of potential causes.

Whether you're having trouble hearing or have a loved one who seems to be experiencing hearing loss, it's understandable to have questions about what, exactly, hearing loss is, what causes it and what treatment options are available. Dr. Emily Taylor, an audiologist at the Taylor Listening Center, breaks it all down.

What is hearing loss, exactly?

At a basic level, hearing loss "is the inability to hear," Taylor tells Yahoo Life. You may have some idea if you or a loved one are experiencing hearing loss — or you may be clueless about it — but this can actually be measured by an audiologist, Taylor says.

One out of every three people between the ages of 65 and 74 has hearing loss. Half of those older than age 75 have hearing problems, according to the National Institute Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

Hearing loss can happen when any part of the ear or hearing system isn't working in the usual way, including the outer ear, middle ear, inner ear, auditory nerve and auditory system, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

There's a range with hearing loss that's generally broken down this way, per the CDC:

• Mild hearing loss: This is when a person may hear some speech sounds but soft sounds are hard to hear.

• Moderate hearing loss: Someone with a moderate hearing loss may hear almost no speech when another person is talking at a normal level.

• Severe hearing loss: With severe hearing loss, a person will hear no speech when someone is talking at a normal level and only some loud sounds.

• Profound hearing loss: When this happens, someone will not hear any speech and will only hear very loud sounds.

What causes hearing loss?

There are actually a lot of potential causes of hearing loss, Taylor says. "One of the main ones we see clinically is hearing loss due to aging, which is called presbycusis," she says. "It typically presents as a high frequency hearing loss and these patients typically come in complaining that it feels like people are mumbling to them."

Others may develop hearing loss due to noise exposure or they're born with hearing loss, she says. Genetics can play a role, too. "Sometimes, if your family members had hearing loss, you're more likely to have it as well," she says.

Hearing loss can usually broken down into different types, the CDC says. Those categories include:

• Conductive hearing loss: This is hearing loss caused by something that stops sounds from getting through the outer or middle ear. It can often be treated with medicine or surgery.

• Sensorineural hearing loss. This form of hearing loss happens when there is a problem in the way the inner ear or hearing nerve works.

• Mixed hearing loss. This is hearing loss that includes both a conductive and a sensorineural hearing loss.

• Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder. This type of hearing loss happens when sound enters the ear normally, but because of damage to the inner ear or the hearing nerve, sound isn’t organized in a way that the brain can understand.

"Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common one I see in the office," Taylor says. "There is no medication or no surgery to fix this. Typically these patients are a good candidate for hearing aids."

Signs of hearing loss

Not everyone with hearing loss realizes they're struggling to hear, Taylor says. "Hearing loss is so slowly changing over time in most cases," she says. As a result, people with hearing loss are "reframing in their head what they consider normal hearing to be," she says.

Taylor says these are some of the most common signs of hearing loss:

• You often ask other people to repeat what they said

• You feel like other people are always mumbling or not speaking clearly

• You have a lot of trouble hearing when there's background noise

• Other people complain that you turn the TV volume up too loud

How hearing loss is diagnosed

If you or a loved one suspects you have hearing loss, it's a good idea to visit an audiologist for testing. "The first thing we start with is a very detailed case history — that's where we're getting all of the pertinent information," Taylor says. That can include if you have a family history of hearing loss, where you notice your hearing loss and how long you've noticed difficulty hearing, she says.

Your doctor will typically then examine your ear canal to see if there's a build-up of wax or a sign of infection. "If everything looks good in there, we would then go into our sound treated booth," Taylor says. There, the doctor will measure the volume in your ear canal as well as the pressure in your ear. Your doctor will also check how active the hair cells in your cochlea (the spiral cavity of the inner ear) are.

"After the testing, you would come out of the booth and have a very detailed conversation about all of the findings," Taylor says. "And that's a really good opportunity to then make sure you understand it and ask all of your questions."

Worth noting, per Taylor: Medicare will cover one audiology test a year if it's for medical necessity.

Hearing loss treatment

Treatment for hearing loss largely depends on what is causing it. In some cases, removing a waxy build-up or treating an infection will restore hearing, Taylor says. In others, a hearing aid or even surgery may be needed.

Medicare does not cover hearing aids. "They are a bit expensive, but I always tell my patients that this is an investment in your healthcare," Taylor says. "If you're with the right audiologist and you're taught how to properly care for your hearing aids, this is an investment that's going to last for many years." (Hearing aids are now available over the counter, with a wide range of prices.)

"For people who are struggling with their hearing loss, the best recommendation I can give you is to find a trustworthy audiologist," Taylor says. "Do your research. Look online at reviews. ...You want to make sure it's an audiologist who will be there for you because you will have a million questions and you will need to see them more often than you think. It's really like finding a partner in your hearing journey."