Hearing Loss

Hearing Loss Symptoms, Types & Cause All in Details. In this Article we are providing information on the hearing loss Symptoms, type of hearing loss, severity and treatment, costs of hearing aids, therapy or surgery related to hearing loss.

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What’s a Hearing Loss ?

Hearing loss is when your ability to hear is reduced. A hearing loss makes it more difficult for you to hear speech and other sounds. The most common causes of hearing loss are noise and ageing. In most cases a hearing loss cannot be cured. Hearing loss, or hearing impairment happens when there is a problem with one or more parts of the ear or ears, the nerves coming from the ears, or the part of the brain that controls hearing.

Hearing loss is different in every person. People also may use the words deaf, deafness, or hard of hearing when they’re talking about hearing loss. Actually in other words we can say Hearing loss is a loss of the loudness or clarity of sounds. Most people have had temporary hearing loss at least once in their lives. the most common hearing loss symptoms are trouble in hearing what others say.

Types of Hearing Loss

Neural Hearing Loss

If there is considerable damage of hearing nerves or the part of nervous system that is responsible for hearing has been damaged then such cases fall under the category of neural hearing loss.

Conductive Hearing Loss

This type of hearing loss is directly associated with inability of or malfunctioning of outer or middle ear. In this condition, either outer ear or middle ear or both, fails to collect and carry forward the sound waves emitted from a source. This condition, in most of the cases is treatable; however, the method of treatment depends upon the actual problem. In maximum cases of conductive hearing loss, depositions of wax in the ear canal or fluid build up behind the eardrum are the prime reasons. However, in some of the cases, it is also caused due to disrupted bones of the middle ear or due to disrupted ear drums.

Sensory Hearing Loss

Deformity of Cochlea, degeneration of inner air due to aging, infection, meniers disease, exposure to excessive noise and genetic syndrome are the main reasons that cause sensory hearing loss. The treatment procedure of this condition is not easily possible either through medicine or surgery.

Mixed Hearing Loss

When a person is suffering from conditions like Otosclerosis then it causes damage to both middle and inner ear and also to the neural system of ear. Such patients are said to be suffering from mixed hearing loss.

Hearing Loss Symptoms

Hearing loss occurs to most people as they age. Hearing loss can be due to the aging process, exposure to loud noise, certain medications, infections, head or ear trauma, congenital (birth or prenatal) or hereditary factors, diseases, as well as a number of other causes. In the year 2001, there are some 28 million people in the USA with hearing loss. Hearing loss is the single most common birth “defect” in America. Hearing loss in adults, particularly in seniors, is common.

The problem of hearing loss, if not since birth, is often a like a process than an occurrence. Other than due to accidental reasons, when the loss can be instantaneous, normally it is caused over a prolonged period of time. In the beginning the hearing loss can be deceptive; however, with time, it goes profound and start interfering with your ability to react to a sound and thus becomes prominent during conversational speech.

How do I know I have hearing loss?

Do you have trouble in hearing what others say?
Do you feel that people around you have started mumbling?
Do you steer up the TV volume to a level others start complaining?
Do you feel blame your concentration as you hear less when it is bit noisy?
Do your friends or family members complain about your hearing inability?
Do people tell you that, off late, you have been talking loudly?
You hear people speaking but you have to strain to understand their words.
You frequently ask people to repeat what they said.
You don’t laugh at jokes because you miss too much of the story or the punch line.
You frequently complain that people mumble.
You need to ask others about the details of a meeting you just attended.
You play the TV or radio louder than your friends, spouse and relatives.
You cannot hear the doorbell or the telephone.
You find that looking at people when they speak to you makes it easier to understand.

Causes Of Hearing Loss

Age

Age related degeneration of middle ear, inner ear and nerves that are responsible for hearing are main cause of hearing loss.

Disease

Measles, mumps or any other such type of viral infection, along with diseases like Meniere’s syndrome, tumors of the hearing nerve and meningitis are the second largest reason for hearing loss.

Drugs

There are certain drugs that are known to hamper the functionality of hair cells present in the inner ear; causing hearing loss. Quinine, aminoglycosides, aspirin are some of such drugs that can trigger hearing loss.

Infections

Otitis media is a condition that causes formation of fluid in the middle ear. This fluid hampers hearing to a great extent and can be triggered due to sore throat and inflamed tonsils

Perforation

Drastic change in the air pressure over the eardrums in comparison to the air pressure maintained in the inner ear; such as during adventure sports like paragliding or scuba diving; there are chances of perforation of eardrums, resulting in hearing loss.

Wax

Ear canal, if is blocked due to Wax buildup, then it stops sound to travel towards the inner ear and thus can also cause hearing loss. However, such type of hearing loss can be easily treated with proper medical attention and personal hygiene.

Malformation

If the outer ear or the ear canal is malformed; then it causes acute hearing loss.

Noise

Excessive noise pollution or if exposed to loud noise for a long period of time, then such exposure can cause permanent hearing loss.

The main cause of hearing loss is something we all have to come to terms with – our age. However, it can also be a result from disease,trauma or long-term exposure to damaging noise.

Can hearing Loss Be Cured By Drugs or Surgery ?

At the moment, some hearing losses can be treated by either drugs or surgery. Most people with hearing difficulties find that a hearing aid recommended by a Hearing Aid Audiologist will improve their hearing.

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