About Hearing Loss
What is hearing loss?
Hearing loss is a sudden or gradual decrease in how well you can hear in one or both ears. Depending on the cause, it can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.
Congenital hearing loss means you are born without hearing. Gradual hearing loss happens over time.
A hearing loss can happen when any part of the ear is not working in the usual way. This includes the outer ear, middle ear, inner ear, hearing (
acoustic) nerve, and
auditory system. Hearing loss can vary greatly among people and can be due to any of a number of causes.