Gradual Hearing Loss
Gradual hearing loss is a reduction in hearing ability that develops slowly over months or years, as opposed to sudden hearing loss, which occurs rapidly. The most common form of gradual hearing loss in adults is presbycusis, the age-related deterioration of the cochlea's sensory cells. Noise-induced hearing loss is also typically gradual, developing over years of repeated exposure to loud sound.
Because the change is slow, many people do not notice it themselves. Friends and family members often observe the signs first: the person asks for repetition more frequently, turns up the volume on the television, or withdraws from social situations that involve complex listening. Gradual hearing loss is usually sensorineural in nature and permanent, as damaged hair cells in the cochlea do not regenerate.
Early identification through regular hearing assessments allows for timely intervention. In Canada, there is no publicly funded universal hearing screening program for adults equivalent to the newborn hearing program, so many adults do not get assessed until significant difficulty has already developed.
