Hearing Loss
By Ellen Mc Laughlin

HEARING LOSS

Hearing loss, no matter how mild or temporary, is always difficult to deal with. While the vast majority of Americans have normal hearing, approximately eight percent of the population suffers from some form of hearing loss that affects their ability to properly function, as well as the quality of their daily lives.
Hearing loss is not normal or common.

When an individual suffers from a loss of hearing, there is always a medical reason or condition behind it. When most people think of hearing loss, they think of congenital hearing loss and that those who have difficulty hearing were born with it. Those born with a hearing loss, however, make up only a small percentage of the overall hearing-impaired population.

There are several different types of hearing loss. The most common, sensorineural hearing loss, accounts for approximately ninety percent of all hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by some kind of damage to the pathway sound waves travel from the hair cells of the inner ear to the auditory nerve and the brain.

There are many causes of such damage, including genetic factors, infections, medications such as aspirin and certain antibiotics, medical conditions, etc. Aging is also a cause of this kind of hearing loss, as nerves wear out with age. Fully twenty-three percent of those suffering from sensorineural hearing loss are over the age of sixty-five.

Conductive hearing loss is the second most common type of hearing loss, “conductive”

referring to the inability of sound impulses to reach the middle ear. The loss of hearing in these cases is usually due to some kind of blockage, such as ear wax in the ear canal, fluid in the inner or middle ear, etc. Such causes can often be treated and hearing either restored completely or with minimal loss.

Unfortunately, there are also far more serious causes of such hearing loss, including diseases of the middle ear such as otosclerosis.

Hearing loss in children is often caused by one severe ear infection or several successive ear infections, known as “otitis media.” Children are especially affected by such infections, as the hearing system is often still developing.

The early warning signs of hearing loss include difficulty hearing in noisy environments, increased volume on televisions and/or radios, a sense that people are always “mumbling”, misunderstanding words, especially names and numbers, and constantly asking people to repeat themselves when they are speaking in a normal tone of voice.

Any one of these signs should be immediately evaluated by an ear, nose and throat specialist and/or an audiologist, as the prevention of further progression of hearing loss is important.
Sudden hearing loss is usually due to a medical emergency or sudden serious medical condition, such as ear tumors, leakage of inner ear fluid, internal ear bleeding, etc.

Airplane travel and scuba diving, which often cause sudden changes in air pressure which, in turn, affects ear pressure, may also be the culprit in sudden hearing loss, as well as exposure to a sudden loud noise at very close range.

 

Ellen Mc Laughlin is a prolific writer and has been active in the field of hearing loss, tinnitus and deafness for a number of years.