Causes of Hearing Impairment The most common causes are : (a) Aging , (b) Bacterial or viral infection , (c) Exposure to loud sounds , (d) Impacted cerumen or ear wax Other causes are : (a) Birth defects , (b) Hearing injury , (c) Heredity , (d) Certain drugs , (e) Tumors   Types Of Hearing Loss Conductive Hearing Loss which is a result of sounds being reduced on their way from the outer ear to the inner ear. Generally persons with conductive loss benefit from medicine or surgery. If surgery is not possible , Hearing aids may benefit.   A Sensorineural Hearing Loss is caused by damage to the sensory cell and nerve fibers of the inner ear contrary to conductive loss where damage occurs in the outer ear, ear canal or middle ear. This kind of loss cannot be treated by medicine or surgery and may benefit from hearing aids.   Mixed Hearing Loss is one which contains elements from both the hearing loss referred above.