9 things that can cause hearing issues

Have you noticed a change in your hearing lately? Maybe you need to turn up the TV volume when you watch your favorite show. Or conversations sound muffled.

It’s true that hearing loss affects many people as they get older. But aging is only one of the common culprits that can cause hearing issues. Being exposed to loud noises, high blood pressure, too much earwax or an infection like swimmer’s ear can impact your hearing too.

The good news is that there are effective ways to treat many hearing problems. The best place to start? Make an appointment with a hearing care professional who could help uncover the cause of your hearing issues.

Here’s what to know about 9 common culprits — plus quick advice on what to do next.

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1. Aging

Most of us gradually lose our hearing over time. Consider the stats: Roughly 1 in 3 adults have hearing loss between the ages of 65 and 74.¹ 

What to know: As you get older, the tiny hairlike cells in your inner ear that are responsible for sending sound signals to your brain become damaged and die off. Part of this is normal wear and tear — years of being exposed to loud noises, for instance, or infections. And family history could play a role too.²

Treatment: If you find yourself asking people to repeat what they just said, make an appointment with a hearing care professional. They can give you a hearing exam and fit you for hearing aids if you need them.

2. Exposure to loud noise

Spending a lot of time around loud sounds can eventually damage your hearing. How loud? Think streaming music through headphones at full volume. Or the sounds of a jackhammer, fireworks or sirens.³ Certain people may be at higher risk for noise-induced hearing loss, including:^4,5

• Construction and aviation workers, firefighters and musicians
• People whose hobbies include snowmobiling, dirt biking, riding a motorcycle or shooting guns
• People who go to loud concerts regularly

What to know: Avoid standing too close to loud sounds without taking a break. Be sure to wear earplugs or protective earmuffs, too.

Treatment: You might want to get a hearing exam and consultation if your work or hobbies expose you to loud noises. Your hearing care professional can recommend custom-made earplugs or hearing aids if you need them.

3. Type 2 diabetes

When you have diabetes, too much blood sugar (glucose) stays in your bloodstream. High levels of glucose can damage the tiny blood vessels and nerves in your inner ear over time, especially if the diabetes isn’t managed well. And that can lead to hearing loss.⁶

In fact, people with diabetes are twice as likely to have hearing loss as those the same age who don’t have the condition.⁶ 

What to know: Staying on top of your diabetes treatment plan is the best way to prevent hearing loss. Medication, diet and exercise can keep blood sugar under control. So can monitoring glucose levels and going to your doctor for regular checkups.

Treatment: If you have diabetes, you should see a hearing care professional to have your ears and hearing checked regularly.

Ready to request a hearing exam and consultation? UnitedHealthcare Hearing has a wide network of hearing care professionals. Find a provider.

4. Smoking

You already know smoking cigarettes is bad for your heart and lungs. But smoking also harms your ears. Smoking can damage blood vessels, restricting the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your inner ear.⁷ And the chemicals in cigarette smoke can also damage the hairlike cells that help you hear.⁸

What to know: Research shows that those who quit smoking also improved their hearing.

Treatment: Consider getting a hearing exam if you are a smoker and notice hearing issues. Need help quitting? Talk to your primary care provider (PCP) or find tips online at smokefree.gov.

5. High blood pressure and high cholesterol

High blood pressure and high cholesterol restrict blood flow by narrowing arteries and vessels that carry blood to every part of your body, including your ears. And your ears can’t work as well without enough oxygen-rich blood.⁹

What to know: What’s good for your heart is also good for your ears.¹⁰ If you have these conditions, get regular checkups and take medication as prescribed. Aim for at least 30 minutes of some sort of physical activity a day, whether it’s dancing, gardening or walking. And eat a heart-healthy diet that includes whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Treatment: See your PCP or heart doctor. They may refer you to a hearing care professional for further evaluation. 

6. Ear infections

Ear infections aren’t just for kids — adults can get them too. They’re caused by bacteria, fungus or a virus that gets into the ear. Your ears can become plugged up, swollen or painful. Your hearing may be muffled, too.

There are several ways your ears can become infected, including:¹¹

• If you have a cold or the flu and the germs travel to the ear (these affect the inner or middle ear)
• Swimmer’s ear — an outer ear infection caused by bacteria or fungi that grow in overly moist ears
• An infection from a scratch or cut in the ear (for example, from a cotton swab or paper clip you used to clean your ear)

What to know: Luckily, any hearing loss from a middle or outer ear infection is temporary. Once the infection is treated, you should hear normally again.

Treatment: See your PCP or an ear, nose and throat doctor (ENT). They can look into your ear to see if you have an infection and prescribe medication, like antibiotics or steroids, if needed.

7. Too much earwax

Earwax keeps your ears healthy by trapping dust and fighting bacteria. And since it works its way out of your ears naturally, there’s no need to clean your ears. 

Sometimes, though, earwax can build up and create a blockage, especially if you wear hearing aids.

What to know: Impacted earwax can cause pain, earaches and a plugged-up feeling. You might even lose your hearing temporarily.¹²

Treatment: Don’t try to clean your ears on your own. Your best bet is to see your PCP or hearing care professional. They can remove excess wax with special tools or drops.¹²

8. Certain medications

Some medications can be ototoxic. That’s a word used to describe something that may harm your hearing or balance. Ototoxic medications can damage the cells in the inner ear that help you hear and stand upright.¹³ The first sign is ringing in your ear (called tinnitus). 

The most common ototoxic medications are:¹³

• Aspirin
• Some types of antibiotics known as aminoglycosides (they usually end in “mycin”)
• Loop diuretics (water pills), which are used to treat high blood pressure or heart failure
• Some chemotherapy drugs
• Quinine (to treat malaria)

What to know: Many times the hearing loss will be temporary. Hearing usually returns once you stop taking the medication. If you hear ringing in your ears or have trouble hearing, call your doctor.

Treatment: Don’t stop taking a medication without talking to your doctor. They may be able to change the dose or drug. If that’s not possible, your doctor will likely recommend regular hearing tests to monitor your hearing.¹⁴

9. Headphone use

Listening to music through headphones is perfectly fine if you take precautions. But if the volume is always set on high, it could damage your hearing over time. That’s because those earbuds fit snugly in your ear canals, close to your eardrums.

What to know: Can the person next to you hear the music or podcast you’re listening to? That’s a sign that the volume is too loud.

Treatment: Keep the volume set at 60% max on all your devices. And listen for only 30 to 60 minutes at a time before taking a break. If you notice a change in your hearing, it may be time for a comprehensive hearing exam and consultation.

Sources

1. Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) Johns Hopkins Medicine. Accessed February 19, 2026.
2. Age-related hearing loss National Library of Medicine: Medline Plus. Accessed February 19, 2026.
3. Noise-induced hearing loss National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Accessed February 19, 2026.
4. Common noise levels – how loud is too loud?  International Noise Awareness Day. Accessed February 19, 2026.
5. Occupational noise facts International Noise Awareness Day. Accessed February 19, 2026.
6. Diabetes and hearing loss Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed February 19, 2026.
7. Association of cigarette smoking patterns over 30 years with audiometric hearing impairment and speech-in-noise perception: The atherosclerosis risk in communities study JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. Accessed February 19, 2026. 
8. Chemicals that affect hearing and balance ASHA Audiology Information Series. Accessed February 19, 2026.
9. Heart disease and hearing loss American Academy of Audiology. Accessed February 19, 2026.
10. Strategies to prevent heart disease Mayo Clinic. Accessed February 19, 2026.
11. Earaches and ear infections American College of Emergency Physicians. Accessed  February 18, 2026.
12. Earwax blockage Mayo Clinic. Accessed February 17, 2026.
13. Ototoxic medications (medication effects)  American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Accessed February 19, 2026
14. Ototoxicity Cleveland Clinic. Accessed February 17, 2026.

Clinically reviewed
Published April 2, 2026

Information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for the advice of a licensed medical provider. Consult your provider prior to making changes to your lifestyle or health care routine.

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