Although most people know that hearing loss usually comes with age, few people know what causes hearing loss. The two primary functions of our ears are hearing and balance. As people age, their ears become less effective at distinguishing sounds, especially lower frequency sounds. For some people, hearing loss makes it embarrassing to ask people to repeat themselves, and nearly impossible for them to function in daily life. One in three people over age 65 and half the population 75 years of age and older suffer from acute to severe hearing impairment. While most hearing loss occurs because of damage to the cochlea, the spiral component of the inner ear that helps people hear, many other causes of hearing loss exist. Examples of causes of hearing loss include ear infections, abnormalities of the bones in the ear, cancerous growths in or on the ear, damage to the eardrum, and complications from other diseases, such as auditory neuropathy caused by diabetes. Diminishment of hearing quality may also be genetic, such as deafness passed on from parent to child. Hearing problems may worsen because of overexposure to extremely loud noises. If you are experiencing hearing loss, a doctor can pinpoint the causes.