The inability to hear sounds emanating from the surrounding environment is what characterizes hearing loss. Research suggests that one out of every ten people are affected by some form of hearing loss. The amount of damage describes the degree or extent of the hearing loss. The range can run from mild to profound and can usually be treated with devices to assist a patients ability to hear.
Hearing Loss Types:
- When the bones of the middle ear, the incus, malleus, and stapes (the smallest bones in the body) do not receive sound from the external ear, this is called Conductive Hearing Loss. This results in the inability to hear faint sounds.
- Damage to the Cochea or inner ear results in the permanent loss of hearing. Commonly referred to as Sensorineural Hearing Loss, it is caused by the inability of the cocheus to send electrical impulses to the brain. As the cochea contains the auditory nerve, damage to it results in the inability to send impulses to the brain for interpretation.
- A combination of the two above hearing deficits is called Mixed Hearing Loss, and is due to damage of the outer, middle, and inner ear.
- When there is an abnormality in the brain, such as a brain tumor, or a non-malignant tumor in the auditory canal that causes sound to not be sent to the brain, it is called Central Hearing Loss.
- There is also unilateral loss of hearing, meaning that hearing deficit is located in just one ear.
How Hearing Loss Happens:
There are many different causes for the inability to hear sounds. Some of these causes include:
- Loud sudden noises such as an explosion or airbag deployment – Family history (Genetics) – Repeated ear infections – Chronic illness such as diabetes – Puncture of the eardrum – Excessive Ear wax – Blockages such as ear wax, fluid, or mechanical obstruction – Lesions (tumors) – Trauma to the head – Viruses – Constant exposure to loud noises
The extent of the damage or hearing lost is determined by the degree of severity. In order to determine this, specialists will perform specific tests in order to discover the cause, type, location and degree of hearing loss. These tests include:
- Tuning Fork testing or Weber’s Test
- Rinne test – compares air and bone conduction
- The measuring of hearing levels or Audiogram Test
- The testing of Speech
Treatment and Surgical procedures for hearing loss:
- A Hearing Aid Device
- Myringotomy: A small incision is made in the ear drum and a tiny tube is inserted to drain the ear of a buildup of fluid.
- A surgical procedure where manipulation of the stapes bone or complete replacement is performed also known as a Stapedectomy.
- Tympanoplasty and Mastoid surgery: Reconstructs the ear drum, and the removal of the mastoid bone and any disease it contains.
- The removal of tumors or acoustic neuromas is called Translabyrinthine surgery.
- The surgical removal of small tumors in the ear is called Middle Fossa and Retrosigmoid.
If you believe you have some type of hearing loss, consulting with a hearing professional for testing, diagnosis, and treatment will help you begin hearing the sounds coming from your environment again, and participating in the activities you enjoy.
