While many people may be familiar with the causes and symptoms of hearing loss, not many realize just how prevalent it is in society. Hearing loss is a common problem in the United States, as over 25% of people in their 60s and 70s experience some sort of hearing loss.
An individual with hearing loss cannot hear at all or partially in one or both ears. Hearing loss happens gradually over time. The outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear make up the three main parts of the ear.
How Hearing Works
The hearing process is beautifully simple, but any disruption can be challenging to live with. A sound is heard when it passes through your outer ear to the eardrum, which is a thin layer of skin that separates your outer and middle ears. When this sound goes past your eardrum, it vibrates, allowing you to hear.
During the sound waves’ journey to the inner ear, the three bones of the middle ear called ossicles add to vibrations generated by the eardrum. The three bones of the middle ear are called the hammer, anvil, and stirrup.
The cochlea is a snail-shaped structure in the inner ear. The cochlea’s cells have thousands of tiny hairs attached to them. When a sound wave reaches the inner ear, it travels through the fluid of the cochlea.
Different sound vibrations provoke different reactions in these tiny hairs, allowing your brain to hear different sounds based on the vibrations of the sound waves. Your brain interprets these electrical signals as sounds based on the sound vibrations.
Types of Hearing Loss
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss is a type of hearing loss that occurs because of allergies, a buildup of wax, or one or more ear infections. This type of hearing loss occurs when a sound has difficulty traveling from the eardrum to the outer parts of the ear.
People that suffer from this type of hearing loss usually will have trouble hearing softer or more muffled sounds. Conductive hearing loss usually isn’t permanent, which provides a small source of satisfaction to those suffering from this affliction.
Earwax removal, or surgery may be used in treating it. It may be necessary for your doctor to prescribe antibiotics if you have a hearing loss resulting from the effects of an infection. If the problem stems from another conductive hearing problem, your doctor may refer you to a specialist for a cochlear implant or hearing aid.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when nerve pathways leading to the brain are damaged or when inner ear structures are damaged. This type of hearing loss is usually permanent, making even distinct, normal, and loud sounds seem distorted or unclear.
There are many causes for this type of hearing loss:
- Meniere’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear that can affect balance and hearing.
- Birth defects affecting the ear structure.
- Aging
- Working around loud noises
- Trauma to the head or skull
There are over 200 over-the-counter and prescription medications that can also cause hearing loss. Consult your doctor for information about the hearing risk associated with any medication you’re taking to treat cancer, heart disease, or an infection.
Hearing Loss Side Effects
A person who develops hearing loss may have difficulty understanding others, which increases anxiety and depression. People who develop hearing loss have been shown to suffer negative effects on their quality of life and mental well-being.
Initial research suggests that treating hearing loss may improve cognitive performance, particularly memory. The mechanism of interaction between hearing loss, cognitive impairment, depression, and isolation is under active study.
A hearing loss treatment can benefit your life in a number of ways, including restoring self-confidence while improving communication skills.
Prevent Hearing Loss
While there are multiple causes of hearing loss, there are also multiple ways to prevent it.
Using earplugs or glycerin-filled earmuffs can help protect your ears from damaging noise in the workplace. In general, limit your exposure to noise in the workplace by limiting its duration and intensity.
Regular hearing tests are good for people who work in noisy environments. If your hearing has been impaired, you can prevent further damage.
It is crucial to wear hearing protection or take breaks from noisy activities to protect your ears. Adapting the volume of your music helps too. Snowmobiling, hunting, using power tools, and attending rock concerts can cause damage.
It is important to remember to seek treatment immediately if you believe you may be suffering from hearing loss. Hearing loss comes in many different forms and cases, but it is extremely important to be proactive when dealing with all of them to prevent any further damage.
If you live in the Las Vegas area, contact Hearing Associates of Las Vegas immediately take the first steps toward healthy hearing.
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