Deafness: symptoms, causes, treatment, etc. & bull; hello healthy

Definition

What is deafness?

Hearing loss, also known as deafness, is a disorder in which a person is unable to hear sound partially or completely in one or both ears.

A person can be said to have a hearing loss if they cannot hear more than 40 decibels (dB) in adults, and more than 30 dB in children.

As an illustration, here are examples of volume in everyday life:

• Countryside quiet: 20 dB
• Quiet conversation: 40 dB
• Normal conversation: 60 dB
• Traffic: 80 dB
• Industrial noise: 100 dB
• Very loud music, for example at concerts: 120 dB
• Lightning at close range: 120 dB
• Jet engine: 140 dB

Aging and long-term exposure to noise are factors that play a big role in this condition. Other factors, such as excess earwax, can also interfere with the function of the ear in making sound properly.

Most cases of deafness cannot be cured. Because people with hearing impairments have difficulty communicating, most use hearing aids or cochlear implants.

How common is this condition?

This condition is quite common and can happen to almost anyone. However, the incidence of cases is more common in elderly patients, namely between the ages of 65 and 75.

Based on data reported by the World Health Organization, it is estimated that there are 5% or 466 million people worldwide who suffer from hearing problems, and 34 million of them are children.

In addition, 1.1 billion people aged between 12-35 years are at risk of hearing loss due to exposure to too much noise in their daily activities.

Hearing loss cases are more common in developing countries with relatively low economic levels, such as South Asia, Asia Pacific, and sub-Saharan Africa.

Type

What are the types of deafness?

Deafness or hearing loss can be divided into several types. Based on which part of the ear is affected, the following types of writing are:

• Conductivewhich is when sound cannot pass through the outer and inner ear canals due to a blockage
• Sensorineural, namely writing caused by damage to cells in the inner ear or in the auditory nerve.

In addition, deafness can also be divided into 2 types based on what the trigger is:

• Hearing loss due to noise (noise-induced)
• Hearing loss due to age (prebikusis)

Based on the level, writing can be divided into:

• Mild deafness: Can only detect sounds between 25-29 dB
• Medium Deaf: Can only detect sounds between 40-69 dB
• Severe deaf: Only hear sounds above 70-89 dB
• Total deafness: Not being able to hear anything below 90 dB means that you can't hear anything, at any decibels

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of deafness?

People with hearing loss will usually show signs and symptoms that vary early. Sometimes, symptoms can appear gradually with age, or appear suddenly.

Some of the common symptoms experienced by sufferers include:

• Muffled sound
• Difficulty understanding words, especially if it's in a noisy atmosphere or a crowd
• Difficulty hearing consonants
• Often ask other people to speak more slowly, clearly and loudly
• Need to turn up the TV or radio volume
• Communicating less and less
• Avoiding some social situations
• Some voices sound too loud
• Difficulty following a conversation when 2 or more people are talking
• Difficulty distinguishing high pitched consonants (such as “s” or “th”)
• It's easier to hear a male voice than a female voice
• Heard a voice like a murmur
• Feeling unbalanced or dizzy (commonly associated with Meniere's disease and acoustic neuroma)
• Pressure sensation in the ear (due to fluid behind the eardrum)
• Ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus)

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:

• Hearing loss begins to affect daily activities
• Hearing problems don't go away, they even get worse
• Hearing loss in one ear
• Hearing loss suddenly
• Severe ringing in the ears
• Other symptoms, such as ear pain with hearing loss
• Headache, weakness and numbness in the body

Each sufferer's body shows signs and symptoms that vary. To get the most appropriate treatment and according to your condition, make sure you always check any symptoms you experience to the doctor or the nearest health service center.

Cause

What causes deafness?

The human ear consists of three main parts, namely the outer, middle and inner ear. In the process of hearing, sound waves pass through the outer ear and cause vibrations to the eardrum.

The eardrum and the three small bones located in the middle ear will reflect these vibrations towards the inner ear. After that, the sound vibrations will pass through a small organ called the cochlea.

In the cochlea, there are thousands of fine hairs that will convert sound vibrations into electrical signals, which are then sent to the brain. The brain is in charge of converting these signals into sound.

Hearing loss can occur as a result of several conditions. In conductive type deafness, the disturbance occurs due to problems in the outer and middle ear. Common causes of conductive hearing loss are:

• A buildup of wax in the ear canal
• Damage to the small bones behind the eardrum
• Buildup of fluid due to ear infections
• A foreign object stuck in the ear canal
• Injury to the eardrum due to repeated infections

Meanwhile, sensorineural hearing loss occurs due to damage to the nerves in the tiny hairs located in the inner ear. The damage is usually triggered by a certain disease or injury. Some of the conditions that affect damage to the inner ear are:

• Acoustic neuroma
• Hearing loss due to age
• Infection in childhood, such as meningitis, goiter, scarlet fever , and measles
• Meniere's disease
• Long-term exposure to loud noises
• Use of certain drugs

In some cases, hearing loss is a congenital condition caused by:

• Birth defects that cause changes in the ear structure
• Heredity
• Infections that are transmitted by the mother while the baby is still in the womb (such as toxoplasmosis, rubella, or herpes)

The ears can also be injured as a result of:

• The difference in pressure between the inner and outer eardrums, usually occurs when performing scuba diving
• Skull fracture, which can potentially damage the ear structures or nerves
• Trauma from loud sounds, such as explosions, fireworks, gunfire, concerts and hearing earphones the volume is too loud

Risk factors

What factors increase my risk for deafness?

Deafness is a condition that can occur in almost anyone, regardless of age group and racial group. However, there are several factors that can increase a person's risk for developing this condition.

The following are risk factors that can lead to deafness:

1. Age

Ear disorders are more common in elderly patients. Certain health problems as well as decreased ear function have a big impact on this condition.

2. Genetic factors

Heredity can also make you more susceptible to ear damage.

3. Exposure to loud noises

If you are continuously exposed to too loud a sound, it has the potential to damage the cells in your inner ear.

4. Consumption of certain drugs

Certain types of drugs can interfere with the structure of your inner ear and cause hearing loss. These drugs include:

• Painkillers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and diclofenac have a risk of causing hearing loss if taken at less than the doctor's recommended age.
• Antibiotics, such as aminoglycoside, vancomycin, erythromycin, and streptomycin.
• Large doses of diuretic drugs over the long term.
• Chemotherapy drugs, such as cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, bleomycin, and carboplatin.

5. Suffering from certain diseases

Diseases that cause a high fever, such as meningitis, can potentially damage the cochlea of ​​the ear.

Complications

What are the complications caused by deafness?

Deafness generally will not cause certain health problems. However, sufferers will experience significant changes in several aspects of their life, such as communicating.

In children, hearing loss can interfere with child development, both in academic performance and cognitive development of children.

In addition, hearing loss sufferers who feel isolated from their social environment have the potential to experience mental problems, such as depression.

Diagnosis & treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How is this condition diagnosed?

In diagnosing this condition, there are a series of tests and procedures that will be carried out by the doctor and the medical team. Here's the explanation.

1. Physical examination

The doctor will look directly at your ear to investigate the cause of ear problems, such as ear wax or inflammation due to infection. The doctor will also check the ear structure, which may affect the quality of your hearing.

2. General hearing examination

Usually, the doctor will ask you to cover one ear to assess how well you can hear sounds at different volumes.

However, the results of these tests are generally not accurate enough, so the doctor will order other types of tests.

3.Test tuning fork (tuning fork)

A tuning fork is a 2-toothed metal device that can produce a specific sound. A simple test with a tuning fork can help doctors detect hearing loss in a patient.

An evaluation with a tuning fork can also show whether the deafness is caused by damage to the middle ear, nerves in the inner ear, or damage to both.

4. Test the audiometer

In the audiometer test, you will use earphones on one ear in turn. Each sound or word that is heard has a different volume and decibels.

How is deafness handled?

Deafness treatment depends on the cause and the severity of what you are suffering from. The following are medical treatment options recommended by doctors:

1. Clean earwax

In most cases, mild hearing loss can be treated by removing the buildup of wax in the ear canal. The doctor will use a small instrument that can suck and clean the stool thoroughly.

2. Operating procedures

Some cases of hearing loss require surgery. This procedure is generally performed to treat cases of deafness due to abnormalities in the ear bone structure.

3. Installation of hearing aids

If your hearing loss is caused by damage to your inner ear, your doctor will recommend that you put on a hearing aid.

Hearing aids can help reflect sound waves that enter the ear canal, thereby enhancing your hearing ability.

4. Cochlear implant

If your hearing loss is more serious and your hearing aids are not helping much, a cochlear implant procedure may be an alternative for you.

A cochlear implant focuses on the part of your inner ear that is badly damaged, such as the hearing nerve.

Home remedies

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

Here are lifestyle and home remedies that can help you treat or prevent hearing loss:

1. Protect your ears

As much as possible, try to avoid your ears from exposure to sounds that are too loud and too long. If you work in a noisy environment, such as a factory, you can use ear plug or earplugs.

2. Clean the ears with care

When cleaning your ears, you can use an earwax softener such as Cerumenex. Use cotton bud and warm water, then gently clean the ear to avoid damaging the eardrum.

Be careful when removing foreign objects from the ear. Unless the stool is easy to pass on its own, it's best to seek medical help. Do not use sharp tools to remove foreign objects.

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