Hearing Loss

Temporary or gradual loss of hearing is quite common, especially as you get older. About one third of Americans over 60 years of age, and over a half aged over 70 years experience varying degrees of hearing loss. If you are younger, then wear and tear and the vagaries of time are the less likely cause. Either way you need to have some general information about hearing loss. You need to know at what point you should seek help and specialist advice.

Structure of the ear
To understand a bit about hearing loss you need to know some basics about the ear. It is divided into three main structures:

The outer ear, where sound is funneled into the ear via the ear cartilage (the pinna) and the ear canal (the meatus)

The middle ear, where the eardrum and three small bones vibrate and move with the sound waves. The eustation tube, also in the middle ear, keeps the air pressure equal to the pressure outside

The inner ear, contains the cochlea a spiral structure filled with fluid involved in hearing and balance. Attached to nerve cells in the cochlea are thousands of tiny hairs. They help translate sound vibrations into electrical signals that are transmitted to your brain. The cochlea also passes vibrations back into the middle ear where they can be lost in the air and through the eustation tube.

The Auditory nerve passes information to the brain which is able to interpret all the information.

Causes of Hearing loss
When hearing loss occurs the source of the problem can be from any point or from a combination of problems within the ear or within the brain.
Congenital-some people are born with hearing problems
Infections of the ear or the brain
Diseases such as meningitis
Trauma-damage to the structures within the ear e.g. rupture of the ear drum, damage to the hearing center in the brain
Noise induced deafness. Common in men in the music industry, heavy industry (factory, construction work), from firearms
Build up of ear wax blocking the ear canal
Damage to the cochlea
Abnormal bone growths
Tumors
Aging- gradual deterioration that results in less efficient transmission of sound waves

Signs and symptoms
Needing to turn up the volume of the television or radio
Muffled quality of speech and other sounds
Difficulty understanding words, especially against background noise, in crowded places
Asking others to speak more slowly, clearly and loudly
Withdrawal from conversations and the avoidance of social situations

Seeking Help,Advice and Treatment
Common things commonly happen! In the medical world this is very true and gradual hearing loss will probably be due to general deterioration. However any hearing loss affecting the way you live should be investigated especially if it is sudden. If you are experiencing pain, problems with balance, fever you should not delay your visit.
The first person you see should be your doctor who can examine you and your ears to diagnose the cause. He/she may ask for a test, an audiology test, simple and non invasive, to detect the extent and type of hearing loss you have.
Treatment will depend on the cause. Antibiotics to treat infection, ear syringing to get rid of ear wax, fitting a hearing aid or cochlear implant for severe hearing loss.