Information and facts on Hearing Loss

 

Hearing loss happens when sound waves are effected in traveling to the brain is impaired. Loss of hearing can be either partial or complete. It may be temporary or permanent loss, depending on the cause. Hearing loss is not the same thing as deafness, or hearing deficit. Hearing loss is divided into three categories: 1) central hearing loss, 2) conductive hearing loss, and 3) sensorineural hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss occurs when the passage of sound waves is impeded in the external/or middle ear. It may result from factors such as earwax buildup, middle ear infection and inflammation, Paget’s disease, arthritis, or trauma to the eardrum.  Sensorineural hearing loss is a consequence of damage to the structures or pathways of the inner ear. It may result from damage to the acoustic nerve (8th cranial nerve, also known as the auditory nerve), which carries information from the inner ear to the brain, or from damage to tiny cells called hair cells in the inner ear. The hair cells are responsible for translating sound waves into nerve impulses for transmission to the brain. If the hair cells die, they are unable to repair themselves and the resulting hearing loss is permanent. Sensorineural hearing loss can be present from birth, or it can be caused by certain prescription medications including certain antibiotics, non-sterodial anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin taken over along period of time in high doses, quinine, viral infection of the inner ear, and Meniere’s disease.

Sensorineural hearing hearing loss affects both the acuity and clarity of hearing. Initially, it is noticed at higher pitches, and then, as it progresses, it is noticed at lower pitches, where speech is heard. It is also possible to have mixed hearing loss, in which both conductive and sensorineural loss are present. Neural hearing loss usually occurs as a result of a brain tumor or stroke. 

Central hearing loss is very rare and is usually due to severe brain damage. 

Hearing loss can be sudden or gradual, occurring over a period of days, weeks, or years. Infection, trauma, changes in atmospheric pressure, and earwax buildup or impaction can cause a sudden loss of hearing. Infection and inflammation often follow an upper respiratory infection or trauma to the ear, such as from the overuse or improper use of cotton swabs. Bathing or swimming in water that is overly chlorinated or contains high levels of bacteria and/or fungi can also lead to ear infections. Persistent and recurrent ear infections are often linked to fungal infection like Candidiasis and are frequently seen in people with allergies, cancer, diabetes, or other chronic diseases.

If hearing loss develops gradually, the individual experiencing it may be unaware of it until it reaches a fairly advanced stage. In fact, it is not uncommon for friends and family members to notice signs of hearing loss before the person experiencing it does. Some signs that may point to a hearing problem include seeming inattentiveness, unusually loud speech, irrelevant comments, inappropriate responses to questions or environmental sounds, requests for statements to be repeated, a tendency to turn one ear toward sound, and unusual voice quality.

30% of people over 65 years old have problems with their hearing. Aging is the major factor in loss of the ability to hear the full range of frequencies in everyday communication. Loss of the ability to hear high-frequency noises usually comes first. This type of age-related hearing impairment is called presbycusis. Presbycusis can be caused by a change in the blood supply to the ear due to heart disease, some diabetic conditions, or circulatory problems.

Suspected hearing deficits in infants deserve close and immediate attention, as an undiagnosed hearing impairment can lead to delayed and/or diminished acquisition of language skills and, possibly, learning disabilities. Risk factors for hearing loss in infancy include a family history of hearing loss; known hereditary disorders; congenital abnormalities of the ears, nose, or throat; maternal exposure to rubella or syphilis, or to ototoxic drugs such as tobramycin "Nebcin", streptomycin, gentamicin "Garamycin", quinine "Quinamm", furosemide "Lasix", or ethacrynic acid "Edecrin"; and birth-related problems such as prematurity, trauma and/or lack of oxygen during delivery, low birth weight, Usher syndrome, or jaundice. ( See also Ear Infection). Sensorineural hearing loss in children can also be caused by childhood diseases such as meningitis, mumps, and rubella. Signs of hearing problems in infancy include failure to blink or startle at loud noises; failure to turn the head toward familiar sounds; a consistent ability to sleep through loud noises; greater responsiveness to loud noises than to voices; a failure to babble, coo, or squeal; and monotonal babbling. In toddlers, warning signs include failure to speak clearly by age two, showing no interest in being read to or in playing word games, habitual yelling or shrieking when communicating or playing, greater responsiveness to facial expressions than to speech, shyness or withdrawal (often misinterpreted as inattentiveness, dreaminess, and/or stubbornness), and frequent confusion and puzzlement. In older children, signs of hearing loss are similar to those in adulthood, a failure to respond to verbal requests, inappropriate responses to questions or other sound stimuli, and a seeming inattentiveness.

Hearing loss caused by exposure to loud noises is an increasing problem in our cities today. When the delicate mechanisms of the inner ear are assaulted by loud noises, a phenomenon called temporary threshold shift occurs. If you have ever walked away from a concert or a construction site with a buzzing or hissing in your ears, or with everything sounding as if you are underwater, then you have experienced temporary threshold shift. When this condition occurs, you hear only noises above a certain level. While overnight rest usually restores normal hearing, this is a sign that damage has occurred to the hair cells in your inner ear. If this type of damage is lengthy and/or repeated, permanent threshold shift, with permanent damage and hearing loss, is the result. There are a number of terms some clinical, some informal used to distinguish among the sources of noise-related hearing loss. Boilermaker’s ear is a condition caused by heavy exposure to broad-band noise. The affected individual loses the ability to hear high-frequency sounds and has difficulty in understanding spoken words. Diplacusis is a form of hearing loss experienced as sound distortion— the pitch of a given tone is heard differently by each ear. 

Hyperacusis is an extreme sensitivity to loud noises that can be caused by damage to the eardrum. Sociocusis is a term used to denote hearing loss from non-work-related exposure to noise. Most people who develop noise-related hearing loss say they were unaware that anything was wrong until they developed tinnitus or speech became inaudible, but in fact, the damage begins long before that and temporary threshold shift is a clear sign of it.

The National Center for Health Statistics reports that aover 33% of young people have some form of  hearing loss. They also report that in most cases, this type of hearing loss could have been prevented.

Tinnitus is a condition that occurs in about 85% of people with hearing loss. It is experienced as constant or recurring ringing, buzzing, or hissing noises not caused by anything in the external environment. It is now thought that the noise originates in the brain and not in the ear, as was previously believed. If the ear is damaged by exposure to loud noises or certain medications (including aspirin), the brain may try to compensate and end up producing electrical signals that a person hears as a ringing noise in the ears.

TEST YOURSELF FOR HEARING LOSS

The following is a quick test for hearing loss that you can do easily on your own: Rub your thumb and index finger together a few inches from your ear. If you can hear a scratching sound, your hearing is probably intact. If not, you may be experiencing hearing loss. 

Other Changes To Make

• drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or filtered water a day

• eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)

• nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good

• juice is good (make your own with a juice machine)

• do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods

• carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack

• a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)

• do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks

• do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...

• use stress relief like going for walks in the park (or the 10/90 rule - see Stress)

• brown rice is good to eat

• avoid red meat and animal fats

• reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others

• fast a few days a month

• get at least 8 hours of sleep 

• exercise light to moderate amounts

• avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet

• do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke

• do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal

• do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry

• do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else

All information presented on these web pages is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, or to administer to any physical ailments.
In all matters related to your health please contact a qualified, licensed Medical Consultant or Doctor.