Living with Hearing Disorders
The hearing is a complex system in the body that operates in such a complicated fashion. Yet you hear at such a rapid speed that you can take the entire process for granted. Who would have time to bring to consciousness such a process? Then again, we only realize the importance of our hearing once we suffer from hearing disorders.
There are a number of common disorders that affect the hearing. Some of them are not really classified as disorders but bring considerable discomfort and intrusiveness, just like disorders do. A hearing disorder can occur at birth or it may develop as a person grows. It can also be a result of an injury or a complication of an illness. Nonetheless, any hearing disorder is characterized by abnormal hearing. It can be plain below average hearing sensitivity, hypersensitive hearing, or hearing of non-existent noises.
Hearing Loss
There are generally two types of hearing loss, which are conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. The former is caused by earwax, ruptured eardrum, or fluid buildup in the middle ear. Bone abnormalities in the ears can also cause conductive hearing loss, which occurs when the sound waves that pass through the ears are not transmitted properly. That results in muffled hearing, which can last for as long as the abnormality or blockage remains in the ear.
Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to the nerve that conducts impulses from the ears to the brain. This damage is usually caused by exposure to loud noise. It can also be caused by a tumor or an infection. Aging may also lead to sensorineural hearing impairment that is believed to be a result of cumulative damage sustained over the years. Use of medications may also cause degeneration of auditory nerve fibers, and this can also result in either temporary or permanent hearing damage.
The treatment for hearing loss depends on the type and cause. Blockage in the ears, which causes conductive hearing loss, can be removed through simple procedures. For instance, impacted earwax can be removed by an otologist or even a GP. The patient can go home afterwards. Ear infections, which result in temporary hearing loss, can be treated using antibiotics.
Sensorineural hearing loss can be managed through wearing of hearing aids, which amplify incoming sound so it could be heard more easily. Hearing aids today have been significantly improved to optimize amplification of certain frequencies. Studies show that people with hearing loss usually have problems hearing certain frequencies. Hence, hearing aids are adjusted to amplify only the affected frequencies.
Ringing in the Ears
Millions of people suffer from this strange condition characterized as perception of ringing noise inside the ears. This condition is called tinnitus, and it is a peculiar subject in the area of audiology. The often misunderstood condition is said to be a symptom of a disorder. However, the culprit is sometimes unidentified.
Experts believe that the usual cause of tinnitus is loud noise exposure. This explains why many musicians and factory workers suffer from this condition. It also explains why it is associated with sensorineural hearing loss. Tinnitus can be triggered by stress or ototoxic medications like aspirin. It may be temporary or permanent. It can exist in one ear or both ears.
There is no cure for tinnitus, but there are many ways to manage it. One is through maskers, devices that emit a steady stream of broadband noise. Tinnitus maskers provide relief by making the ringing inside the ears imperceptible. Once the masker is turned off, tinnitus becomes perceptible again. That is the major limitation of masking devices. On the other hand, if you have hearing loss at the same time, you will be advised to wear hearing aids. The amplification of external sound diminishes the perception of internal noise.
Other treatments for tinnitus include homeopathic remedies, which provide relief without causing side effects. Natural remedies usually work by activating the healing mechanism of the body. Other alternative treatments are acupuncture, acupressure, and herbal treatment.
Hyperacusis
Some people are intolerant to noises and may have exaggerated reactions to noises, which do not at all bother others. They are suffering from sensitive hearing or hyperacusis. Another form of sound intolerance is misophonia, which is a selective type of noise intolerance. It is hard to pin down the causes of hyperacusis, but experts think inner ear damage due to loud noise exposure or aging is the culprit. Just as the cause is hard to determine, it is also hard to find a suitable treatment. In most cases, afflicted individuals would have to live with the condition. Retraining therapy can help people with abnormally sensitive hearing. Wearing of masking devices is said to bring about relief. There remains no definite treatment procedure for hypersensitive hearing.
Advice to Everyone
Regular screening of the hearing is important to detect early signs of hearing disorders. It is recommended that people be screened for hearing loss every three years. Those who work at acoustically hazardous environments should have hearing assessment more often. Go to your doctor, too, if your ears are ringing or if you have developed abnormal sensitivity to certain sounds or noises.
Sensitive Hearing: Diminishing Tolerance to Sound
People have some tolerance limit to sound. At certain intensities, sound becomes intolerable for many. But there are people who suffer from sensitive hearing, and they are unable to withstand even ordinary noise. This hypersensitive hearing disorder occurs with or without hearing loss.
Sensitive hearing arises due to hyperacusis, phonophobia, and misophonia. Hyperacusis is a condition that arises from a shift in the processing of sound. Even average sound levels can trigger abnormal reaction as though excruciating noise is heard. In misophonia, only specific types of noise are disliked. People with misophonia detest some noises, which do not at all cause any reaction to the rest. Extreme aversion to noise is called phonophobia or fear of sound, which occurs in people who believe that any noise will cause damage to their hearing.
Abnormal hearing sensitivity may be selective, in which the affected patients may dislike only certain types, but not all, noises. For instance, clattering of kitchen utensils, scratching of boards or surfaces, creaking of doors, and blowing of car horns can irritate these people. However, they may be able to listen to other sounds, like music, even at higher volumes. A significant number of people with poor sound tolerance have hyperacusis, phonophobia, and misophonia. Hearing sensitivity may not be a product of damage to the inner ears. In many cases, failure of the brain to process sound properly leads to errors in sound perception.
Let us explain the mechanism behind sensitive hearing. As we know, the auditory nerve consists of thirty thousand fibers, which carry information to the brain. No hearing occurs until the impulses reach the conscious part of the brain. The brain does a complex task at such a very short span of time of processing the incoming impulses, filtering unwanted sound and amplifying perception of relevant sound impulses.
In the case of hypersensitive hearing, the brain reacts abnormally to what other people would regard as regular noises. The perceived excruciating noise gives rise to negative emotional reactions. People with hyperacusis or misophonia tend to avoid noises. Then they develop fear of sound or phonophobia. Soon this affects their daily life. They cannot have normal conversations with people. They cannot perform their duties normally. Even small noises can irritate them. Going to public places can become a dreadful thing.
Abnormal hearing sensitivity is caused by several factors. Frequent use of ototoxic medications can cause damage to the tiny delicate structures in the inner ears. Some antibiotics and antihistamines can cause damage to the inner ear in the long run. NSAIDs can cause such damage too. This damage leads to different hearing problems like tinnitus, hearing loss, and hyperacusis. Experts also think that stress is a huge factor in the collapse of hearing tolerance. This is probably because stress stimulates the release of certain chemicals in the body, which affect the ears and the brain. Physical injuries can also lead to damage to the auditory system. For instance, a person who suffered a whiplash may develop abnormal hearing sensitivity. People with malfunctioning brainstems may also have abnormal tolerance to noise and certain sounds. There could be other causes of sensitive hearing, but audiologists cannot possibly identify all causes.
There are different ways to treat hypersensitive hearing, but none of these methods are thought to be very effective. Doctors can prescribe medications to reduce sound intolerance. Some medications are antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, migraine medications, and anti-seizure drugs. Prolonged use of these drugs is not recommended at all because of considerable side effects.
Devices may also be used to counteract hyperacusis and other forms of hearing hypersensitivity. Two common devices are earplugs and tinnitus maskers. Earplugs, however, cannot offer long term benefits because they hinder the process of habituation. For you to be able to adapt to the noises, you should be able to hear them, and earplugs do the opposite. Tinnitus maskers, on the other hand, are designed especially for tinnitus sufferers. Masking devices help people be able to tolerate noise.
Sometimes abnormal hearing sensitivity is dealt with through psychological approaches. Counseling may be done to help patients understand that what they are going through is not threatening at all. A more thorough approach is retraining therapy, in which similar therapy applied to tinnitus sufferers is ordered. It is a combination of psychotherapy and sound therapy. One reason affected people should go to psychologists is to help them cope with depression or anxiety that develops as they suffer from their abnormal hearing.
Surgery becomes an ultimate option, but is only chosen if the patient is suffering from dysfunctional cochlea or severe hearing loss due to physical abnormalities within the hearing system.
There are certain things you should do to keep your suffering at a minimum. Exposure to noise should be avoided, especially loud sound or music, because it could damage your hearing further, leading to worsening case of your hypersensitive hearing. Caffeine and alcohol should be kept away, as they cause disturbances in your blood pressure and body chemistry. Also, avoid substances that trigger migraine; such substances include MSG, chocolate, and aged cheese. Certain medications should be discontinued; ask your doctor regarding safe drugs that are not ototoxic.
Prevent Hearing Disorder Through These Tips
The best way to prevent hearing disorder is by staying away from loud noise. The most common cause of hearing loss is repeated exposure to loud noises, such as car horns, machinery noise, and loud music. People who work in noisy places are highly prone to hearing loss. At the same time, musicians are also likely to get hearing impairment. Many people suffering from sensorineural hearing loss are band members and musical conductors, who are frequently exposed to high decibel sound. When this happens, they may not only have to look for a relief for hearing loss but also other cures like a ringing ears treatment to treat the other hearing problems that they may have acquired.
Another way to keep your ears safe is to stop putting anything in your ears. Poking your ears is also harmful in a few ways. First, you can scratch your ears. Second, you can push your earwax deep. Third, you can puncture your eardrum. Using Q-tips to clean the ears is not recommended. In fact, removing the earwax is never recommended by specialists. The ears have their own efficient way of cleaning themselves up.
Treat ear infections right away. Earache should warrant you to go to your doctor. Don’t wait until a nasty goo comes out of your ears. Ear infections can be treated successfully using antibiotics, but seek your doctor’s recommendation. Such infections can worsen and cause conductive hearing loss when left untreated.
Most people often wait for such a time when they have go to the doctor to get a treatment for their ear problem such as a tinnitus cure. A useful advice ignored by many people is to go to your otolaryngologist for a regular hearing assessment. This is one thing you must always consider.
What You Should Know About Common Ear Diseases
Ear problems can happen to anyone and they are usually the most disconcerting. These diseases are more common than people think, and early detection is important to preclude serious complications. A lot of people suffer from these conditions, but only few of them get diagnosis and proper treatment. While most ear diseases are not threatening, they can keep a person from doing their normal functioning. Untreated ear conditions can lead to deafness, infections like meningitis, and paralysis of the facial nerve.
Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is more prevalent than we think. A lot of people suffer from mild hearing loss and don’t even know it. Without knowledge about hearing loss, a lot of people are at risk. The common cause of this condition is excessive and repeated noise exposure. People exposed to industrial noise are prone to develop hearing disorder.
Early signs of hearing loss are usually undetected because people do not really think the symptoms mean anything out of the ordinary. For instance, turning the television volume more than other people at home may not be noticed as a symptom. Inability to understand speech and conversations may sometimes be mistaken for simple confusion or inattentiveness.
Impaired hearing can have profound effects on the life of the sufferer. Without proper diagnosis, appropriate help is not achieved. At the same time, people with undetected hearing loss are at risk of sustaining further damage and progressing hearing loss.
Normal people should have their hearing assessed every three years. People who are working in hazard places (occupational areas with loud noise) should have their hearing assessed at least once a year. If you have been diagnosed with hearing loss, you should go to your audiologist or otolaryngologist regularly to monitor the progress of your impairment.
Otitis Media
Middle ear infections are common among kids, but they can occur in adults too. These infections start from common colds or sinus infections gone worse. When these upper respiratory tract infections reach the Eustachian tubes, congestion in the middle ear happens. The constriction of the Eustachian tubes creates a negative pressure in the middle ear, and this negative pressure pulls fluid from adjacent tissues. The buildup of fluid in the middle ear causes mild hearing loss, which disappears once the fluid is cleared.
There are three kinds of otitis media—serous, acute, and chronic otitis media. All these types are characterized by fluid congestion in the middle ear, but acute and chronic otitis media are accompanied by pus buildup. Serous otitis media is characterized by mild symptoms without eardrum inflammation. There is minimal ear pain, and fever is usually absent. Acute otitis media is accompanied by eardrum inflammation and foul smelling secretions. Chronic otitis media shares common symptoms with the acute otitis media, but it lasts for months or even years.
Treatment of middle ear infection involves antibiotics, but you should consult your doctor before taking any.
Otosclerosis
An abnormal growth of bone in the middle ear, which causes hearing loss, is called otosclerosis. The presence of the abnormal bone growth prevents normal transmission of sound to the inner ear. Unlike common types of hearing loss, the one associated with otosclerosis begins with the gradual loss of low frequency sound perception. High frequency hearing loss can occur later.
It has been revealed by statistics that about 0.5% of the population may be suffering from this condition. Many people with the problem do not suffer from obvious symptoms. The cause of otosclerosis cannot be pinned down, although there is some evidence indicating that it could run in families. Otosclerosis affects both ears and usually progresses. There is no definite treatment, but patients can wear hearing aids to amplify their hearing. A surgery called stapedectomy can be done to remove the stapes, and a prosthesis is placed to correct hearing loss. However, this surgery often has many complications including vertigo and complete deafness.
Meniere’s Disease
There are a number of inner ear problems, but Menieres Disease is a commonly mentioned illness in the literature of ear diseases. This is another troublesome disease that has no cure. Its cause is also unknown, although specialists point out that it is associated with excessive fluid pressure in the inner ears. Symptoms of Meniere’s disease are vertigo, feeling of pressure in the ears, fluctuating hearing loss, and ringing in the ears. Such symptoms occur without warning and last for a few hours to several days, leaving the patient debilitated. A period of remission follows an attack, and it lasts for an indefinite period of time. Meniere’s disease can be managed by treating the symptoms during an attack. There are available vertigo medications that helps reduce dizziness or spinning sensations. Hearing usually improves after the attack, and tinnitus will recede.
Tinnitus
Ringing in the ears or tinnitus is often misunderstood because it cannot be classified into one of the ear disorders. It may be a symptom of a disease or a plain condition or a product of hearing loss. In many cases, it exists alone without a causative disorder. It troubles hundreds of millions of people in the world, and many of them do not know they have tinnitus—they probably hear their ears whistling but don’t actually know what that whistling sound is.
Tinnitus can be due to hearing loss, damaged nerve endings in the inner ears, a tumor on the vestibulocohclear nerve, or other abnormalities in the ears. This condition is difficult to treat completely, but it’s a benign condition.
Hearing Problems in Celebrities
Hearing loss and tinnitus aren’t just confined in average people. If you’re suffering from a form of hearing disorder, you’re not alone because you’re in the league of millions around the globe who are suffering from the same thing. Many known people in politics and entertainment business have tinnitus and hearing loss. People like Phil Collins, Barbra Streisand, William Shatner, Eric Clapton, and Steve Martin admitted they have hearing problems. Tinnitus and hearing loss, for instance, affects many musicians, who often had to cut back performances in order to preserve what’s left of their hearing. Some people acquire the problem while shooting a film, especially if there are explosives.
Hearing loss and tinnitus are usually incurable conditions. Both can be addressed through hearing aids. Appropriate treatment can only be achieved after a series of hearing assessments. Go to your audiologist to have your hearing assessed if you suspect you’re suffering from a hearing problem.
Some people don’t actually spend money for treatment options. For instance, Barbra Streisand never followed the advice of her doctors to wear hearing aids, although she has installed noise generators in her home.
There various medications and therapies available to treat hearing problems. Unfortunately, most of them have limited advantages. For instance, typical natural tinnitus treatment remedies don’t really work to stop tinnitus but work by improving a person’s health. On the other hand, most cases of hearing loss can only be helped with the use of hearing aids.
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