Hearing loss: causes, symptoms, to treatment

Definition

What is hearing loss?

Hearing loss is a medical disorder in which you gradually lose the ability to hear sounds. The Mayo Clinic says this condition can occur due to aging and a number of other factors, including listening to sounds that are too loud.

The ear consists of three main areas, namely the outer, middle and inner ear. When parts of the ear are damaged, the process of hearing what you do will be disrupted.

How common is this condition?

Hearing loss is a very common condition. This condition usually occurs in the elderly. This condition can be treated by reducing risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Signs and symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of hearing loss?

Common symptoms of hearing loss are:

• Difficulty listening and understanding words, especially in noisy places
• Trouble listening to consonants
• Often ask the other person to repeat the words
• Unable to detect sound direction
• Trouble keeping up with the conversation.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

You should contact your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• You notice a sudden loss of listening skills
• You cannot understand the whole story in conversation
• You feel like your voice is muffled
• You need to turn up the volume when watching TV or listening to music

Call your doctor if you have difficulty hearing that interferes with your daily activities. This could be due to the effects of age, so you may not notice it quickly.

Cause

What causes hearing loss?

According to the cause, hearing loss is divided into three types. Here's the explanation.

1. Conductive

This hearing loss usually occurs when sound vibrations cannot get into the inner ear. This condition can be caused by disruption of the ossicles (stapes, malleus, and incus) or other parts of the ear that block the flow of sound from reaching the cochlea.

Ear problems that can't vibrate sound waves properly can also be the cause of this conductive deafness.

• Earwax that has accumulated
• Swimmer's ear
• Blocked ears
• The presence of fluid in the middle ear
• Flaw
• Otosclerosis
• Cholesteatoma

2. Sensorineural

This hearing loss is most common. If you have this condition, the voice becomes difficult to hear and unclear. This ear problem occurs in the inner ear, cochlear nerve, or disorders of the cilia (tiny hairs in the ear).

This type is usually caused by a variety of things and certain medical problems, such as:

• Aging
• Acoustic trauma
• Autoimmune disease that attacks the inner ear
  
• Meniere's disease
• Sudden changes in air pressure
• Acoustic neuroma

3. Combination

Combined hearing loss is a combination of both conductive and sensorineural types. People with this condition usually experience the sensorineural type first.

Over time without treatment, hearing loss gets worse and leads to conductive disturbance.

Risk factors

What factors increase my risk for hearing loss?

There are many risk factors for hearing loss, including:

• Age
• Loud voice
• Heredity
• Sound at work
• Recreational sounds
• Some medications, such as antibiotics, sildenafil (Viagra) and certain chemotherapy drugs

Complications

Hearing loss can have a significant effect on your quality of life. This condition can lead to depression in the elderly, because hearing loss can make conversation difficult and make you feel isolated. This condition can also lead to cognitive decline.

Diagnosis

How is hearing loss diagnosed?

Some of the tests below can be done to diagnose hearing loss so that you are treated properly.

• Physical examination
• Screening test
• App-based hearing check
• Tuning fork test
• Audiometric test

Treatment

How to treat hearing loss?

Depending on the cause of your hearing loss, your doctor will recommend the right treatment for you. Treatments can vary from simply removing earwax to preventing blockages.

The following treatment options may be recommended by your doctor:

1. Get rid of earwax blockage

Earwax blockage can be the cause of hearing loss. Your doctor will remove any earwax congestion with a small instrument.

2. Operating procedures

Some types of hearing loss can be treated with surgery, including abnormalities of the eardrum or the bones of the hearing (ossicles). If you have recurrent infections due to persistent fluid, your doctor may insert a small tube into your ear.

3. Hearing aids

If your hearing loss damages your inner ear, hearing aids can certainly help. The audiologist will discuss with you the benefits of using a hearing aid and give you the device.

4. Cochlear implant

If you have more severe hearing loss and don't benefit from conventional hearing aids, cochlear implants may be an option.

A cochlear implant bypasses the damaged or malfunctioning part of your inner ear directly and stimulates the auditory nerve. An audiologist with an ENT specialist can discuss the risks and benefits of this procedure.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat hearing loss?

Here are lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with this condition:

• Position yourself during the conversation, facing the other person or mute any other sounds that could interfere with the conversation
• Tell your friends and family about your hearing loss
• If you don't hear the words clearly, ask the other person to repeat them clearly
• Use a support device to help you hear
• Find a place away from the noise to talk

Prevention

How can you prevent hearing loss?

There are some simple steps that can prevent and reduce the risk of hearing loss due to age:

1. Protect your ears

Limiting the duration and intensity of your ear's exposure to sound is the best way. When working, plastic earplugs or glycerin filled earplugs can protect you from hearing loss.

When you are in a noisy place, such as at a music concert, try to walk away every 15 minutes. Also, take 18 hours of rest from the noise to recover from listening to a loud sound.

2. Do a check on your ear

Get regular ear checks, especially when you work in a noisy environment. If you start to lose your hearing, you can take steps to avoid another bad possibility.

Get a hearing check, for example, once a year, if you have a high risk of developing hearing loss, such as musicians or workers in noisy environments.

3. Avoid recreational risks

Activities, such as driving a snowmobile, hunting, or watching a rock concert can damage your ears over time. Wear hearing protection, such as earplugs, or take a break from noise to protect your ears.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.