About the disease
Hearing impairment is partial or complete loss of hearing. There are many causes that can lead to development of hearing impairment. This condition can be either congenital or acquired. In case of congenital hearing impairment child is born with hearing problems due to genetic predisposition.
In acquired hearing impairment the problem can be caused by certain factors. Mechanical or work-related hearing impairment can develop as a result of being in too loud environment. People working in the plants need to wear protective headphones if the environment is very loud. People working at nightclubs and other facilities where loud music plays all the time can also experience gradual hearing impairment with time or tinnitus, which is ringing in the ears.
People who have tendency to ear infection can develop hearing impairment with time. Such infection as otitis media can influence the eardrum and hearing respectively. Hearing impairment can also develop if there is an accumulation of fluid in the ear. Usually, doctors just need to remove the fluid from the ear to restore normal hearing. Also, foreign bodies in the ear can influence the hearing. They need to be removed from the hearing canal to avoid complications. People who clean their ears too deeply and frequently can also interfere with the production of earwax. Accumulation of earwax can cause hearing impairment as well, it needs to be removed from the ear to restore normal hearing. Hearing impairment can also develop if the eardrum is perforated as a result of an infection or tumor. Otosclerosis, which is a disease of the middle ear, can cause hearing impairment as well. It is usually a hereditary disorder. It is important to go to the otolaryngologist on time to avoid complications.
Symptoms
- Hearing loss
- Ringing and whooshing sound in the ears in some cases
- Pain in the ear
- Accumulation of earwax
- Earwax can assume unnatural color
Diagnosis
- During a general examination, the doctor will examine the ear canal and will look at the eardrum. The doctor will then be able to determine if there is any infection or accumulation of earwax.
- The doctor will ask if the patient works in a loud environment or if he/she had been exposed to loud noises lately.
- An audiogram is a test which measures the hearing of the person.
- A tympanogram is a test which checks the middle ear and also the eustachian tube.
Treatment
- Conservative treatment uses antibiotics and drops to treat infection. Corticosteroids can be used in some cases as well.
- Surgery can be used to repair the inner structure of the ear. Cochlear implantation can be used in severe cases. Hearing aids can be used to improve the gearing and assist the person with hearing.
- Replacement of the stapes bone of the middle ear with titanium implants is used in serious problems with the middle ear to assist hearing.
Authors: Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova, Dr. Farrukh Ahmed
