Hearing loss is a problem caused by noise, aging, heredity or diseases. It can happen when any part of the ear in your auditory system does not work the usual way. It can be sudden and happens quickly, or it can be progressive and worsen over time. It may be present at birth or attained any time subsequently. The degree of hearing loss ranges from mild (25 to 40 dB) to moderate (41 to 55 dB), severe (56 to 70 dB), and reaching profound hearing loss (more than 90 dB) where the patient will not hear any speech anymore but only very loud sounds.
It can happen in one ear as “unilateral”, or in both ears as “bilateral”. It is diagnosed when hearing tests show the person is not able to hear 25 decibels in at least one ear. It is common in older adults, but it might affect all ages, even infants and children.
Common signs of hearing loss include difficulty hearing others clearly, not understanding what people say, asking people to repeat what they’re saying, listening to music or watching TV with high volumes than other people, feeling tired from trying hard to concentrate while listening to others, hearing ringing or buzzing or difficulty hearing phone calls.
In the case of children, they might start speaking late or their speech is unclear when compared to other children, they don’t turn their head when hearing a sound, they want the TV too loud in order to hear, they need people to always repeat what they say, or they struggle at school and don’t listen to instructions.
When unaddressed, hearing loss could impact the life of the patient drastically. It will affect their work, social life and their ability to enjoy life.
Hearing loss may be caused by something treatable or curable or it may be permanent or become permanent.
Aging or damage due to specific factors over the course of years could lead to hearing loss. Such factors might involve exposure to loud noises, ototoxic medicines, work related medicines, viral infections or other ear infections, trauma to the head or ear, or nutritional deficiencies. People working in loud environments such as construction workers, miners, farmers, musicians and military personnel are more at risk of having hearing loss. Genetic factors might also include hereditary or non-hereditary hearing loss.
Chronic ear infections, earwax build-up, or collection of fluid in the ear are also causes of hearing loss. Heart diseases, hypertension or high blood pressure, or diabetes might also be risk factors that induce the likelihood of hearing loss.
Types of Hearing Loss
We have three types of hearing loss:
Conductive Hearing Loss
This happens when sound is prohibited from getting through the outer or middle ear as a result of problems that block the ear canal, ear drum or bones of the middle ear. The block can be earwax, fluid or any kind of ear infection. This type is usually treatable using medicine or surgery.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
This happens when problems arise in the cochlea, the hearing organ in our inner ear or how our hearing nerves work. Exposure to loud noises or noise-induced hearing loss, diseases, head injuries, some medications or chemicals or aging usually cause this type. As people grow older, hair cells lose their function, and their hearing deteriorates and weakens. It is usually permanent but hearing aids might reduce its impact on the patient’s life.
Mixed Hearing Loss
This includes both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. It is a combination of damage in the outer or middle ear with damage in the inner ear, the cochlea. It could be due to a head injury, infection or inherited condition.
No matter which type of hearing loss you suffer from, treating it is extremely important and essential. Help is presented for people with all types of hearing loss. Sometimes audiologists might be able to treat the cause by conducting hearing exams and assessments. They help you choose the correct hearing machine, which usually includes high-quality hearing aids. They won’t make your hearing perfect like before, but they will make the sounds you hear louder and clearer. They are available in different sizes, functions and levels of power.
Listening devices and hearing aid accessories such as amplifiers and headphones are also advisable as they make it easier and smoother to hear the telephone, television or any other device you are using. Assistive listening devices (ALDs) include captioned and amplified phones, smartphone apps, hearing loops and TV hearing devices.
Depending on which type, and the severity of the hearing loss, medications and surgery are needed. A cochlear implant can sometimes be a solution.
With the latest technology, it consists of a microphone, transmitter and a speech processor which prioritize speech to the patient and transfers the processed sound signals to the implanted device. Other surgically implanted hearing devices might include middle ear implants or bone-anchored hearing aids.
Protecting your hearing is essential to prevent any hearing loss from becoming worse. Your hearing might often deteriorate with age, but you alone can reduce the risks by taking corrective actions and measures early on.