What is hearing loss?
Hearing loss is the partial or total inability to hear the sound in either one or both the ears. Hearing loss can be either sudden or gradual decrease and the degree of the problem varies upon the causes. Generally, hearing loss can be categorized into four types namely, mild, moderate, severe and profound. In mild category, patients find it difficult to hear the sound between 20 and 39 decibels, which results in difficulty to hear a television or radio at normal levels or conversations over distances.
Symptoms
The symptoms of hearing loss are muffled hearing or a feeling as if the ear is plugged. They will not be able to understand what people are and gradually begin to avoid conversation with other people. Significantly, there may be a pain in the ear, itching, irritation, fluid leakage from the ear and even though nothing is actually moving around them, they feel as if everything around is moving. This condition means consultation with the qualified doctor who will be in a position to diagnose the symptoms correctly, based upon the patient’s past healthy life and actual physical examination of the ear. A comprehensive test called audio logical test will be conducted to find out which part of the ear is damaged or affected.
Causes
The two most common causes of hearing loss are noise and age. Noise is a common cause that affects people of all ages and the development of hearing loss will be gradual. In addition, when a person is exposed to noise over a long period of time, he is more prone to hearing loss. Age is another factor and when changes occur in the inner ear, as age progresses, it reduces his or her ability to hear, which is gradual but permanent.
The other problems that may lead to hearing loss are small objects in the ear, some injury to the head or the ear, accumulation of ear wax or infection in the ear or rupture of ear drum.
Treatment
One most common treatment for hearing loss is making use of hearing device like hearing aids. Hearing aids usually improves hearing by one half of the loss. They are worn typically on the outside of the ear, by those who still retain some efficiently in natural hearing. They are battery operating device which has a microphone that receives the sound and amplifies it so that the person is able to hear.
When the cause of hearing loss is due to infection, it can be treated with antibiotics. Blockages can be cleared if the ear drums are damaged, they can be repaired surgically and another condition called otosclerosis can be treated by replacement of the affected part with small artificial bones. Some kind of hearing loss can be prevented through simple obvious actions like sound and music that are too loud and are harmful to the ear.
Prevention
Ear infections that lead to hearing loss can also be prevented. When infection is due to water sports, this can be prevented by wearing protection or learning how to dive or execute properly the water sports. Hearing loss can be prevented further, by wearing ear masks or ear plugs. Unnecessary tampering of the ear with sharp instruments should be totally avoided.
A regular check up of the ear especially for the kids is essential. This will help to get early signs of wearing in the ears and prevent it in the right time. Whatever be the degree of hearing loss, it is a matter of concern and has to be attended immediately.
