HEARING LOSS CAUSES
Hearing Loss Causes: Things To Know
The early (or even timely) onset of hearing loss is something that can have a serious impact on anyone’s life. What was once a favorite song or the sound of a loved one’s voice can be become a muffled- or what’s worse- completely silent source of distress. Hearing loss is something that can be hereditary and passed on from your parents, acquired from a sickness, disease, or certain medications, caused by loud noises, tumors, head injuries, or just naturally occur through the aging process. Thankfully, however, if you are beginning to suffer from hearing loss, not all hope need be lost. Some kinds of hearing loss are preventable, and/or treatable, and furthermore with the help of modern hearing aids, the familiar sounds of life can be brought back into your reach.
What causes hearing loss
As mentioned, hearing loss can be brought on by a myriad of different factors ranging from disease, and/or medication to head injury. Here are a few of the most common hearing loss causes as follows:
Meniere’s Disease – While no one knows exactly what causes or triggers this disease it usually onsets between the ages of 30 and 50. Oftentimes, it is associated with vertigo (dizziness), tinnitus (ringing in the ears), sensitivity to strong sounds, and sensorineural hearing loss. For some people symptoms are very mild, while for others, they can be very strong. With the help of a doctor or audiologist, this kind of hearing loss can be managed, but unfortunately, over time some loss will become permanent.
Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease – This disease is characterized by fast and dramatic sudden-onset hearing loss. With shift treatment, the damage done can be reduced, but treatment must be sought as soon as humanly possible.
Otosclerosis- This is a disease that involves the middle ear, and has an effect on the movements of the tiny bones. It can cause a conductive kind of hearing loss, but oftentimes, it is surgically treatable.
Ototoxic Medications- these are drugs that may be taken for other medical conditions, but are also known to damage the ears in the process. Listed below are a few of them:
- Loop Diuretics – such as ethacrynic acid or lasix
- Chemotherapy – Regimens, such as nitrogen mustard, carboplatin or cisplatin
- Aminoglycosides – antibiotics, such as streptomycin, neomycin, or kanamycin
- Salicylates – when found in large quantities such as in aspirin.
Noise-induced Hearing Loss- This is caused by listening to loud sounds over long periods of time and occurs because the hair cells existing in the inner ear become damaged. The danger in this kind of hearing loss is that it happens gradually over time, and painlessly. As such, if you are not aware of its potential, it can occur without your even knowing it. Acoustic Trauma, (a single exposure to deafeningly loud sound that causes a sudden loss of hearing) is also known to occur.
Presbycusis- This is a sensorineural loss of hearing that occurs gradually later in life. It generally affects both ears over time, and as high-pitched sounds are the first ones lost, it can result in speech or certain letters seeming muffled or unclear.
TBI - Short for Traumatic Brain Injury, this hearing loss is the result of skull fractures, structural middle ear damage, or a hole being punched in the eardrum.
Regardless of what may be the cause of your hearing loss, the first step is always to see a doctor, and find the exact root of the problem. While serious damage can be prevented or treated in many cases, some hearing loss may still occur. Even with damage that is beyond repair however, in many cases, with the use of a good hearing aid, life can continue as it always had.
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