What causes hearing loss? Ageing, noise, ear wax and how to prevent it
In This Article
Hearing loss has five common causes: ageing, noise exposure, ear wax blockage, ear infections and middle-ear conditions, and certain medications. Ageing and noise are by far the biggest two — and noise-related damage is largely preventable. Some causes, like a wax blockage, are temporary and treatable; others, like age-related changes to the inner ear, are permanent but manageable with the right support. This guide explains each cause in plain English, which ones can be prevented, and when a hearing test is the sensible next step.
How does ageing cause hearing loss?
Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is the gradual wearing of the delicate hair cells inside the cochlea, the hearing organ of the inner ear. These cells convert sound into nerve signals and do not grow back once damaged. The loss usually starts with high-pitched sounds — consonants like S, F and T — which is why speech starts to sound mumbled long before it sounds quiet. It typically affects both ears evenly and progresses slowly, which makes it easy to miss. Around three in four Australians over 70 have some degree of hearing loss, according to Hearing Australia — making it one of the most common health conditions in Queensland's older communities. Ageing itself can't be prevented, but a baseline hearing test from your 60s lets you track changes instead of guessing.
How does noise cause hearing loss?
Loud sound physically damages the same cochlear hair cells — either suddenly, from a very loud event, or gradually, from years of exposure to workplace machinery, power tools, firearms, loud music or motorcycles. Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent, and it is the most preventable cause on this list. As a general rule, if you need to raise your voice to be heard at arm's length, the environment is loud enough to damage hearing over time. Tinnitus — ringing in the ears after noise — is often the first warning sign that exposure was too much.
Can ear wax cause hearing loss?
Yes — and it is the most treatable cause of all. Ear wax is normal and protective, but when it builds up and blocks the ear canal it causes a conductive hearing loss: sounds become muffled, your own voice booms, and the ear feels full. The loss is temporary and hearing returns once the blockage is professionally removed. The important rule is what not to do: never use cotton buds, ear candles or anything smaller than your elbow in your ear canal — they compact wax deeper and can injure the ear. Hearingcare can examine your ears, confirm whether wax is the problem, and refer you to an appropriate provider for removal if it is.
What other conditions and ototoxic medications cause hearing loss?
Middle-ear problems — infections, fluid behind the eardrum, a perforated eardrum, or conditions like otosclerosis — interfere with the mechanical path sound takes to the inner ear, and many are medically treatable. Some medications are ototoxic, meaning they can damage hearing as a side effect; these include certain chemotherapy drugs, some intravenous antibiotics and, at sustained high doses, some common pain relievers. Never stop a prescribed medication over hearing concerns — raise it with your GP or specialist, and have your hearing monitored. Genetics also plays a role in when and how quickly hearing changes with age.
How can you prevent hearing loss? Five habits that work
You can't control ageing or genetics, but the preventable share of hearing loss responds to five habits:
- Protect your ears in noise. Earplugs or earmuffs for mowing, power tools, shooting and loud events. Custom-fitted hearing protection is designed for comfortable, extended wear, so it actually gets worn — Hearingcare makes custom earplugs at our Caloundra clinic.
- Follow the 60/60 rule with headphones. No more than 60% volume for no more than 60 minutes at a stretch.
- Give your ears recovery time. After a loud event, your ears need quiet. Ringing that persists is a signal to get checked.
- Keep objects out of your ear canals. Wax problems are usually caused by pushing wax deeper, not by wax itself.
- Test, don't guess. A baseline hearing test takes about an hour and turns "I think I'm fine" into an actual answer — and picks up treatable causes early.
When should you get a hearing test?
Book an assessment if people seem to mumble, you turn the TV up higher than others like, conversations in noisy rooms are exhausting, your ears ring, or family have commented on your hearing. A comprehensive hearing assessment at Hearingcare identifies which type of hearing loss you have — and therefore which causes are in play and what can be done about them. Eligible pensioners and DVA card holders may access assessments at no cost through the Australian Government Hearing Services Program; eligibility criteria apply, and Hearingcare is an accredited provider.
"The cause changes the plan. A straightforward wax blockage is usually resolved quickly once it's identified. Noise damage means we protect what you have and support what's changed. That's why testing matters — you can't act on a guess," says Linda Whittaker, Qualified Audiometrist at Hearingcare in Caloundra.
If your hearing has changed — or you simply want a baseline — book a comprehensive hearing assessment at Hearingcare on Bulcock Street, Caloundra, serving Golden Beach and the Sunshine Coast. Call (07) 5223 4444.
The information on this page is general in nature and is not a substitute for professional advice about your individual hearing health. Hearing outcomes vary from person to person. Always consult a qualified practitioner about hearing concerns, and speak to your GP before making any change to prescribed medication. Eligibility criteria apply to government programs such as the Hearing Services Program.
Last reviewed July 2026 by Linda Whittaker, Qualified Audiometrist.
Take the next step
If anything in this guide reflects your own situation, a comprehensive hearing assessment is the most reliable next step. At Hearing Care on the Sunshine Coast, Linda Whittaker — a Senior Clinical Audiometrist with over 20 years of experience and ACAud accreditation — provides unhurried, individualised hearing care in a supportive environment.
We see clients from Caloundra, Maroochydore, Mooloolaba, Buderim, Noosa and across the wider Sunshine Coast region. Eligible patients can access fully funded hearing services through the Australian Government's Hearing Services Program.
Individual results vary. Professional hearing assessment is required to determine the most appropriate management approach for your specific situation.
This article is for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary. Professional hearing assessment is recommended for personalised advice.
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