Hearing Loss

Hearing loss, which affects about 25 to 30 million people in the U.S., is a decrease in the ability to perceive sounds. It can affect individuals of all ages. Excessive noise exposure and presbycusis, or hearing loss associated with aging, are the most common causes of loss of hearing.

There are different types and varying degrees of hearing loss. It can be partial or total, sudden or gradual, temporary or permanent, and it can affect one ear or both. While some people lose their hearing for a very short period of time as a result of an accident, medical illness or treatment, for others it is a progressive process that takes many years. Some illnesses, such as diabetes, hypertension, or Meniere's disease, can contribute to the progressive loss of hearing.

Hearing loss is classified according to which part of the auditory, or hearing system, is affected. The outer ear consists of the visible ear and ear canal. The middle ear is an air-filled cavity containing three small bones. The middle ear is separated from the ear canal by the eardrum.

At UCSF Medical Center, we use a multidisciplinary approach to address hearing loss in individuals of all ages.

For more information or to make an appointment, please contact:
Audiology Clinic  (415) 353-2101

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated August 29, 2007