HEARING LOSS, THE CAUSE AND TREATMENT

 

The most widely recognized kind of hearing loss is sensorineural hearing loss. It is caused by harm to the fragile hair cells in the internal ear as well as the nerve pathways that convey sound to the brain. It’s been reported that the majority of the individuals with some form of the hearing issue have hearing loss have this type, and causes for it varies.

 Sensorineural hearing loss happens gradually—the patient won’t lose the hearing capabilities in on go. Rather, slowly and steadily losing the capacity to hear. Both how loud and how clearly the patient can hear or perceive the sounds are affected. This can be witnessed on a first-hand basis. The patient will be more uncomfortable with a higher decibel of sound than she or he was five or ten years ago. For instance, the patient may have enjoyed the firecrackers a few years ago, yet now she or he may find booming sounds insufferable. Treating such disorder are some of the best ENT doctors in Dubai.

 Ageing and constant exposure to loud sounds both may influence ones’ hearing. Other factors, such as excessive earwax, can momentarily decrease the ears functioning to perceive sounds. While treating healing issues, it’s always an ear-nose-and-throat doctor who is first consulted. Though in certain cases a head injury may temporarily cause hearing loss, which may require a neurologist’s consultation along with an ENT Specialist.

 Causes of hearing loss include:

- Damage to the inner ear because of ageing and exposure to loud noises. This may lead to the hairs or auditory nerve cells in the cochlea being damaged. The brain understands that it’s a sound once these tiny hairs send electrical sound signals up to it. In the case these hairs are damaged or missing, the signals aren't carried well leading to hearing loss.

- Gradual buildup of earwax is known to block the ear canal and restrict the sound waves from travelling.

- Ear infection and abnormal bone growths or tumours are also known to cause hearing loss.

- Ruptured eardrum is usually caused by series of very loud noises or in some cases caused by a loud blast, sudden change in air pressure, or jabbing the eardrum with an object, or an ear infection which may cause the eardrum to rupture.

 Prevention and Treatment:

 Losing hearing cannot be restored in case of permanent damage which usually involves injury to the auditory nerves or the tiny hair cells of the inner ear. However, upon consulting with some of the top ENT Specialist hospitalsin Dubai, the recommended solution is hearing aids. The types differ as cochlear implants or bone-anchored hearing systems may be recommended upon diagnosis.

In the case of less severe hearing loss, the doctor may recommend a minor surgery.

 

Though most doctors would ask patients to follow the below points so the noise-induced hearing loss may be prevented which get worse with age:

-  Wear protective gears, in the workplace that comes with high-intensity sounds. Restricting the time and intensity of the exposure to noise can protect the eardrums.

- Getting the hearing tested in case the patient hears muffled sounds and is asking to repeat, for a prolonged period.

- Avoid increasing the volume in the earphones.