Hearing Loss Diagnosis: How It’s Done, What Causes It, and What to Do Next

When you notice sounds fading—like voices turning muffled, the TV needing louder volume, or ringing in your ears—you’re not just imagining it. Hearing loss diagnosis, the process of identifying the type and cause of reduced hearing ability. Also known as auditory assessment, it’s not just about checking if you can hear a beep—it’s about figuring out why your brain isn’t getting the full picture. Many people delay getting tested, thinking it’s just aging or background noise. But untreated hearing loss links to faster cognitive decline, social isolation, and even higher risk of falls.

Hearing loss isn’t one thing. It’s split into two main types, each with different causes and treatments. Conductive hearing loss, a blockage or damage in the outer or middle ear that stops sound from reaching the inner ear can come from earwax buildup, fluid after an infection, or a perforated eardrum. It’s often treatable with medicine or a simple procedure. On the other hand, sensorineural hearing loss, damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve that affects how sound signals reach the brain is more common in older adults and usually permanent. It’s caused by aging, loud noise exposure, genetics, or certain medications like some antibiotics or chemotherapy drugs. This type shows up clearly on an audiogram, a graph that plots your hearing sensitivity across different frequencies—the gold standard test every audiologist uses.

Diagnosis starts with a basic ear exam, then moves to pure-tone testing, speech recognition tests, and sometimes tympanometry to check eardrum movement. If tinnitus—the buzzing or ringing sound—is part of your symptoms, that’s a clue too. It often goes hand-in-hand with sensorineural loss and helps doctors narrow down the cause. You don’t need a referral to see an audiologist in most cases, and the test usually takes less than 30 minutes. What you get back isn’t just a number—it’s a roadmap. Whether it’s hearing aids, lifestyle changes, or stopping a harmful medication, knowing the exact type of loss means you can act, not just wait.

The posts below cover real stories and science behind hearing loss and how medications, aging, and even common treatments can affect your ears. You’ll find what drugs might be hurting your hearing, how to tell if it’s temporary or permanent, and what steps actually help once the diagnosis is in hand.