Deafness
Deafness is something that can affect any age group or any person. It can be something that an individual is born with or it can be caused by the general ageing process. Deafness can be caused by an injury, environmental factors an accident or it could be caused by being hereditary. In more cases than not deafness can be treated so that the hearing remains in at least one ear of the sufferer.
When discussing deafness it can be found in three different types:
- Sensorineural Hearing Loss – this may be described as being caused by damage to the inner ear or nerve paths. Unfortunately it is a type of permanent hearing loss and the treatments available of rectifying the hearing are minimal.
- Mixed Hearing Loss – this type of hearing loss can be a variation of damage that has been caused to both the inner and outer ear.
- Conductive Hearing Loss – this is when the sound is unable to be transmitted via the outer ear in to the eardrum or the middle ear. This is the most effective type of hearing loss to be treated.
Hearing can be lost due to a number of other reasons which can only affect one ear and the other remaining the same. This is called unilateral hearing loss and is mainly found in children. Dependant on the type of hearing loss that is diagnosed will determine the extent of the hearing loss that may be encountered and the treatment that will be available.
Starting with the most common causes of conductive hearing loss to the less frequently found causes of sensorineural hearing loss. Some of the causes of deafness or forms of hearing loss may occur may be things like:
- A build up of ear wax in the sufferer’s ear.
- Infections, allergies, perforated ear drums and other middle ear conditions.
- Something in the ear that shouldn’t be.
- A disease that affects the middle of the ear.
- Genetic contribution to the hearing loss.
- Damage or injury at birth to the ear to lead to hearing loss or deafness.
- Over exposure to loud noises.
- General ageing.
- Benign or malignant tumours.
There are a wide range of treatments available to treat deafness and the loss of hearing. Typically most of the treatments can be used and work effectively on the conductive hearing loss, however they can also work and help treat inner ear damage as well. Removing blockages could involve removing any unwanted objects from the ear or ear wax. Normally if the blockage is removed the individual will regain their normal hearing back. An individual can be fitted with a hearing aid. This can be very useful if the patient is suffering with inner ear damage. Hearing aids make sounds a lot stronger, easier to hear and clearer to understand. A person that is suffering with more severe hearing loss can have implants called cochlear implants put in. these are used to realistically replace the damaged parts of the inner ear of the sufferer.