Hearing loss forms and causes

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Recent studies have shown that there is a strong link between untreated hearing loss scottsdale az and an increased risk of developing certain conditions, such as cognitive decline, dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Hearing loss can lead to an increased desire for social isolation, the onset of depression, or even the risk of accidents through loss of balance – not to mention limiting daily conversations.

The form of hearing loss determines the treatment that will be recommended for each patient. The main forms of hearing loss were divided into 3 categories:

    • Neurosensory hearing loss – hearing loss is the result of a problem with the inner ear or auditory nerves.
    • Transmission hearing loss – the sound is prevented from reaching the inner ear, usually as a result of an obstruction or trauma.
    • Mixed hearing loss – is characterized by a combination of the two forms of hearing loss – neurosensory and transmission.
  • Neurosensory hearing loss

Neurosensory hearing loss is the most common form of hearing loss. It is a permanent hearing loss that occurs as a result of damage to hair cells in the inner ear or auditory nerves, which stops or limits the transfer of nerve signals to the brain, whose role is to transmit information about the intensity and clarity of sounds.

Causes

If someone is born with neurosensory hearing loss, the most likely causes are genetic or as a result of infections transmitted from mother to child right from birth – for example it can be toxoplasmosis, rubella or herpes.

When neurosensory hearing loss develops later in life – which is more common – it can be caused by several factors.

The most common causes:

  • Natural aging (commonly known as presbycusis or hearing loss due to aging)
  • Exposure to loud sounds, usually resulting from the work environment
  • Less common causes:
  • Medical conditions of the heart or diabetes
  • Measles-like infections
  • Meniere’s disease
  • Adverse effects of certain drugs
  • Tumor growths in the inner ear
  • Traumatic injuries affecting the inner ear or auditory nerve
  • Autoimmune diseases

Symptoms

The symptoms of neurosensory hearing loss affect how sound intensity and clarity are perceived. Many people will have high frequency hearing loss, resulting in the following hearing problems:

The voice of other people can be heard vaguely and can be perceived as a murmur

It can be difficult to understand when two or more people are talking at the same time

I can experience a constant sound – buzzing, whistling, etc. in the ear, known as tinnitus

They may have hearing problems in noisy environments (train stations, construction sites, sporting events, stadiums, etc.)

Hearing difficulties can occur especially in the voices of women, children or other higher pitched sounds.

Some spoken sounds may be difficult to hear during a conversation (sounds like s or t)

Sounds may sound too loud or too slow (yes, too loud)

Imbalance or dizziness

People with hearing loss with neurosensory hearing loss often say that they can hear people when they speak, but not clearly.

Treatment

For neurosensory hearing loss there is no drug or surgical treatment to cure damaged hair cells or the auditory nerve. But, neurosensory hearing loss can be treated with hearing aids or cochlear implants, depending on the severity of the hearing loss and it is necessary to go to a specialist audiologist.

Other assistive devices can be used in addition to treatment – alert devices, vibration alarms, mobile phones come in addition to hearing solutions.