Hearing Loss Information
By Ellen Mc Laughlin

Hearing Loss Information

When someone suffers from a hearing loss, he or she usually wants to obtain as much information as possible, not just on their specific type of hearing loss, but on hearing loss in general.

Approximately eight percent of Americans suffer from some form of hearing loss. Of  those, about ninety percent suffer from some form of sensorineural hearing loss, which is caused by some type of damage to the pathway sound waves travel from the hair cells of the inner ear to the auditory nerve and the brain. Conductive hearing loss is the second most common type of hearing loss, and results from some form of blockage of sound impulses from reaching the middle ear.

Information on hearing loss has become far more plentiful in recent years, as people take charge of their own health care and internet resources has made research far easier for the average person. And, as research on hearing loss has increased in recent years, the information gleaned from such research has been more freely shared, enabling those suffering from hearing loss to access and use it much more easily than they were previously able to do so. Those suffering from hearing loss no longer must rely solely on their doctor for any available information.

Parents can now especially seek out needed information on their child’s hearing loss. Ear infections are a primary cause of hearing loss in children, along with congenital causes such as recessive genes for certain types of hearing loss (including autosomal recessive hearing loss and X-linked hearing

loss), prenatal illnesses and exposures to toxins, etc.

Certain prenatal illnesses such as rubella are especially dangerous in terms of causing hearing loss; information on this and other prenatal illnesses that can cause hearing loss is also readily available.

Most of those suffering from hearing loss first seek out information on how hearing actually works, and are often surprised to discover just how intricate, complex and delicate the hearing process really is. The inner ear is especially delicate and damage to its hair cells can result in permanent hearing loss; information on how to avoid such hearing loss by taking special precautions when exposed to harmful noise and/or toxins, and avoiding certain medications, should be particularly valued.

Information regarding a specific type of hearing loss is also readily available nowadays. Websites that are specifically devoted to hearing loss, including specific types of hearing loss, are becoming more common, as are general medical sites that provide information on hearing loss, its specific types, causes and treatments.

An individual affected by hearing loss should seek out as much information as possible on his or her specific type of loss, causes and treatments. They should no longer simply rely on their doctor for any information; the doctor may not even be aware of new information and research regarding hearing loss. The same is true for parents of children suffering from a hearing loss information should be readily and often researched and shared with the child’s doctor.

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