Hearing loss is not being able to partially or entirely hear sound in one or both of your ears.
Significant hearing loss can affect your quality of life and is considered a common aging problem.
The degree of hearing loss can range from mild to profound (mild, moderate, severe, profound)
Types of Hearing Loss
- Sensorineural (involves inner ear)
- Conductive (affects outer or middle ear)
- Mixed (combination of the two)
Hearing loss can also be described as:
- Hearing loss in one ear (unilateral) or both ears (bilateral)
- Symmetrical or Asymmetrical (same or different in each ear)
- Progressive (worsens over time) or Sudden
- Fluctuating or Stable
- Congenital (present at birth) or Acquired/Delayed Onset (appears later in life)
Signs and Symptoms of hearing loss
- Muffling of speech and other sounds
- Impaired hearing that affects daily activities
- Difficulty in understanding words
- Trouble hearing consonants
- Trouble hearing on the telephone
- Asking others to speak slowly, clearly, and loudly
- Increasing the volume of the TV or radio etc
- Withdrawal from conversations
- Avoidance of some social settings
- Worsening hearing loss
- Sudden hearing loss
- Ringing in the ear
- Severe hearing loss
- Having ear pain along with hearing problems
- Dizziness or balance problems
How Is At Risk Of Hearing Loss?
- Older Age people
- Continuous exposure to loud noise
- Family history of hearing loss
- Workplace exposure to loud noises
- Exposure to explosive noises
- Some medications
Temporary hearing loss can be due to
- Ringing in the ear (tinnitus)
- Certain medications
- Some illnesses (meningitis, high fever, etc.)
Causes of Conductive Hearing Loss
It occurs when sounds can not travel from the outer ear to the eardrum and the bones of the middle ear.
Conductive hearing loss can be due to
- Ear infections
- Allergies
- Swimmer's ear
- A buildup of wax in the ear
- A foreign object stuck in the ear
- Benign tumors
- Scarring of the ear canal
Causes of Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL)
Sensorineural hearing loss happens due to damage in the inner ear or in the nerve pathways to the brain.
SNHL is usually permanent.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss can be due to the following:
- Birth defects
- Aging
- Working around loud noises
- Trauma or injury to the head or skull
- Meniere's disease (a disorder of the inner ear)
- Acoustic neuroma (a noncancerous tumor that grows on the nerve connecting the ear and brain)
Mixed Hearing Loss
Mixed hearing loss happens when both sensorineural hearing loss and conductive hearing loss happen at the same time.
Diagnosis of Hearing Loss
Tests to diagnose hearing loss may include:
- Physical examination
Your doctor will look in your ear to rule out earwax or inflammation from an infection as a cause of hearing loss. Any structural causes of hearing problems are also identified.
- General screening tests
- Tests such as whisper tests are recommended.
- App-based hearing tests
- Tuning fork tests
- Audiometer tests
Treatment for hearing loss
Treatment usually depends on the cause of hearing loss
- An ear infection treated with antibiotics
- An earwax buildup might be treated with ear drops or removed
- Surgical procedures to correct any abnormalities of the eardrum or bones of hearing
Hearing aids and implants
- Permanent hearing loss may require hearing aids that can make sounds louder and clearer.
- Some people may also need a hearing implant (devices that are attached to the skull or placed deep inside the ear)
Complications of hearing loss
- Significant effect on the quality of life
- People with hearing loss may report feelings of depression.
- Feelings of isolation due to limited conversations
- Cognitive impairment and decline.
Do's and Don'ts Of hearing loss.
Do's
Minimize background noise
Move to a quiet place when talking to other people
Face people when they're talking to you (you can identify the gestures and facial expressions)
Wear ear protection when exposed to loud noises
Don'ts
Do not listen to music too loudly
Do not put cotton buds or any object in your ears even if you have the sensation of ear blockage
Myth Buster On Hearing Aids
Myth: Hearing aids restore hearing loss to normal levels.
Fact: No! Hearing aids won’t reverse or cure your hearing loss. They help you hear better and can significantly improve the quality of your life.
