Deafness – OZIZA

Deafness

What is deafness or hearing loss?

Deafness or hearing loss is when you’re unable to partially or completely hear sound in one or both of your ears. Hearing loss typically occurs gradually over time.

How does hearing happen?

The three main parts of the ear are the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. Hearing begins when sound waves pass through the outer ear to the eardrum, which is the thin piece of skin between your outer and middle ear.

When the sound waves reach the eardrum, the eardrum vibrates. The three bones of the middle ear are called the ossicles. These include the hammer, anvil, and stirrup. The eardrum and the ossicles work together to increase the vibrations as the sound waves travel onward to the inner ear which sends vibrations to the brain signaling different sounds.

What causes hearing loss?

The three most common causes of decreased hearing are conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), and mixed hearing loss.

Conductive hearing loss occurs when sounds aren’t able to travel from the outer ear to the eardrum and the bones of the middle ear. When this type of hearing loss occurs, you may find it difficult to hear soft or muffled sounds. Conductive hearing loss isn’t always permanent. They can be as a result of ear infections, allergies, wax build up.

Sensorineural hearing loss happens when there’s damage to inner ear structures or in the nerve pathways to the brain. This type of hearing loss is usually permanent. SNHL makes even distinct, normal, or loud sounds seem muffled or unclear. SNHL can result from:

Birth defects that alter the structure of the ear
Aging
Working around loud noises
Trauma to the head or skull
Meniere’s disease, which is a disorder of the inner ear that can affect hearing and balance.
Acoustic neuroma, which is a noncancerous tumor that grows on the nerve that connects the ear to the brain called the “vestibular cochlear nerve”

Mixed hearing loss may also occur. This happens when both conductive hearing loss and SNHL occur at the same time.

What are the symptoms of hearing loss?

Hearing loss typically occurs over time. At first, you may not notice any changes in your hearing. However, if you experience any of the following symptoms, you should visit your doctor:

Hearing loss that interferes with your daily activities
Hearing loss that becomes worse or that doesn’t go away
Hearing loss that’s worse in one ear
Sudden hearing loss
Ringing in the ear

What are the treatments for hearing loss?

If you develop hearing loss due to a buildup of wax in the ear canal, you can remove the wax at home. Over-the-counter solutions, including wax softeners, can remove wax from the ear. Syringes can also push warm water through the ear canal to remove the wax. Consult your doctor before attempting to remove any object stuck in your ear to avoid unintentionally damaging your ear.

For other causes of hearing loss, you’ll need to see your doctor. If your hearing loss is the result of an infection, your doctor may need to prescribe antibiotics. If your hearing loss is due to other conductive hearing problems, your doctor may refer you to a specialist to receive a hearing aid or a cochlear implant.

What are the complications of hearing loss?

Hearing loss has been shown to negatively impact people’s quality of life and their mental state. If you develop hearing loss, you may have difficulty understanding others. This can increase your anxiety level or cause depression. Treatment for hearing loss may improve your life significantly. It may restore self-confidence while also improving your ability to communicate with other people.

How can you prevent hearing loss?

Not all cases of hearing loss are preventable. However, there are several steps that you can take to protect your hearing: