A partial or complete loss of hearing in one or both ears. It is classified as conductive, sensory, or central.
Symptoms of Hearing Loss
The following features are indicative of Hearing Loss:
muffling of speech and other sounds
difficulty in understanding words
trouble hearing consonants
frequently asking others to speak more slowly, clearly and loudly
need to turn up the volume of the television or radio
withdrawal from conversations
avoidance of some social settings
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Common Causes of Hearing Loss
The following are the most common causes of Hearing Loss:
heredity
ear infections
meningitis
trauma
long-term exposure to loud noise
ruptured eardrum
gradual buildup of earwax
maternal rubella
Risk Factors for Hearing Loss
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Hearing Loss:
loud noise
heredity
occupational noises
recreational noises
some medications (gentamicin)
some illnesses (meningitis)
Prevention of Hearing Loss
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Hearing Loss. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
immunization
proper care around pregnancy
avoiding loud noise
avoiding certain medications (gentamicin and chemotherapy drugs)
Occurrence of Hearing Loss
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Hearing Loss cases seen each year worldwide:
Very common > 10 Million cases
Common Age Group
Hearing Loss can occur at any age.
Common Gender
Hearing Loss can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Hearing Loss
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Hearing Loss:
Otoscopy: Visual examination of the outer ear, middle ear, eardrum, and ear canal with an optical instrument
Weber, Bing, Rinne and Schwabach tests: For manual testing of auditory function
Laboratory testing: To detect inflammation or infections
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests: To find out the pathology of different cases of hearing loss
Doctor for Diagnosis of Hearing Loss
Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Hearing Loss:
Otorhinolaryngologist
Audiologist
Complications of Hearing Loss if untreated
Yes, Hearing Loss causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Hearing Loss is left untreated:
depression
anxiety
Procedures for Treatment of Hearing Loss
The following procedures are used to treat Hearing Loss:
Removing wax blockage: Removing earwax by loosening it with oil and then suctioning out the softened wax
Surgical procedures: Surgery helps in the ears draining
Hearing aids: Helps by making sounds stronger and easier to hear
Cochlear implants: Amplifies sound and directs it into ear canal
Self-care for Hearing Loss
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Hearing Loss:
Protect ears in the workplace: Wear specially designed earmuffs that resemble earphones helps in protecting ears from damaging noise
Hearing tested: Consider regular hearing tests
Avoid recreational risks: Avoid activities such as riding a snowmobile, hunting or listening to rock concerts for long periods of time which can damage hearing
Patient Support for Treatment of Hearing Loss
The following actions may help Hearing Loss patients:
Turn off background noise: Television may interfere with conversation
Choose quiet settings: Choose a place to talk that's away from noisy areas
Consider using an assistive listening device: Hearing devices can help to hear better