Causes of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is one of the major health problems that we may face in our lifetime. We need to understand causes of hearing loss in order to get appropriate treatment.

Ability to hear is one of the five important senses that the human being possesses. Through this capability, we are able to communicate with others, enjoy the movies, songs making our life pleasurable and comfortable. Unfortunately, some people are not blessed with this gift, while some people lose their hearing ability due to some reasons. As ear is a very delicate organ, it can lose its normal functioning by several causes. Hearing loss can be defined as partial or total inability to hear sound in one or both ears. It can affect your health as well as your lifestyle. You will find it very difficult to communicate with others and understand what others say. That's why, you need to get information about causes of hearing loss so that you can decide proper treatment plan.

Causes of hearing loss

Hearing loss can be of two types such as conductive hearing loss and sensorineural loss.

Conductive hearing loss: It may be because of physical problems resulting from the movement of sound wave through the ear; for example, blockage of the ear canal. Some possible causes of conductive hearing loss are obstructed external ear canal due to cerumen, foreign body or hematoma, perforated tympanic membrane due to direct trauma, otitis media or blast injury. Dislocated ossicle can also give rise to conductive hearing loss.

Sensorineural hearing loss: It results from damage to cells or nerves of ear, which sense sound waves. Some causes for this type of hearing loss are acoustic trauma due to prolonged exposure to loud noises, barotraumas or ear squeeze, head trauma (fracture of temporal bone), ototoxic drugs such as antibiotics (gentamicin, erythromycins), diuretics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications. Vascular diseases such as diabetes, polycythemia, sickle cell disease and leukemia and meniere disease can also be causes of hearing loss. It may be also due to acoustic neuroma or infections like measles, mumps, syphilis, herpes simplex, meningitis, influenza and mononucleosis. Aging is also one of the important factors contributing to hearing loss.

Causes of hearing loss in adults

Hearing loss in adults can be found due to different causes such as infections or diseases like otosclerosis, meniere’s disease, some medications, exposure to harmful levels of noise, trauma and aging.

Causes of hearing loss in children

Causes of hearing loss in children may differ from those in adults. Otitis media is the most frequently found reason of hearing loss in infants and children. Congenital causes of hearing disability in children include genetic factors, prematurity, maternal diabetes, intrauterine infections such as rubella, herpes simplex virus and cytomergalovirus, complications related to Rh factor in blood, toxemia during pregnancy and lack of oxygen.

Symptoms of hearing loss

Loss of capability of ears to hear can be sudden or gradual. It may be mild causing minor difficulties in conversation or severe such as complete deafness. Sudden hearing loss may result from problems in blood circulation or trauma. If you have other related neurological problems such as vertigo, then it suggests a problem with nerves in brain or ear. Hearing loss may be with one ear or both. Pain in ear is related to trauma, infections and obstruction.

Diagnosis of hearing loss

Examination for hearing loss includes testing of every ear to evaluate hearing ability. Ear canal and tympanic membrane is checked using otoscope. Nose, nasopharynx and upper respiratory tract are examined carefully. CT scan of the brain is also suggested in case of acoustic neuroma. Some blood tests are performed in case of drug interaction, infection or vascular problem.

Treatment for hearing loss

Foreign body or wax blocking the ear canal is removed using forceps or solutions. For ear infections, antibiotics are prescribed. If hearing loss is due to certain infections or diseases, then appropriate medications are prescribed. You also should take care of your ears and avoid exposure to loud sounds.

It is always to better to prevent hearing loss and irradiate its causes , so that you can enjoy healthy and happy life.