Hearing Loss in Children and Adults: Types, Causes and Prevention
Hearing loss is one of the major complaints for review when patients visit an ENT doctor. It is estimated that 6.3% of the people in the country suffer from some kind of hearing impairment. With rise in noise pollution, hearing loss is also on the rise.
Types of Hearing Loss:
There are 3 types of hearing loss, namely:
Conductive Hearing Loss: It can be caused by the impairment of the outer and middle ear; for instance, wax in ear canal, perforation of eardrum, erosion of ear ossicles, etc.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss: It is caused by the impairment of the inner ear which houses the cochlea and nerves; for instance, age-related hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss, etc.
Mixed Hearing Loss: It comprises both conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss.
Additionally, hearing loss can also be sudden onset in nature or progressive over some time; it can be one-sided or two-sided.
At times, hearing losses can be congenital also (by birth).
Read Also: What is Vertigo? Types and Symptoms
Causes of Hearing Loss:
There can be many causes of hearing loss such as:
- The most common cause of hearing loss is wax in the ear canal
- Ear Infection and rupture of the eardrum can also lead to hearing loss
- Any injury induced damage to the inner ear can make one hard of hearing
- Certain medicines which can cause damage to the inner ear include antibiotics, gentamicin, certain painkillers and antimalarials like chloroquine, etc.
- Certain illnesses such as meningitis and mumps are also known to cause hearing loss
When Should I Seek Medical Advice for Hearing Loss:
If you experience a sudden hearing loss that develops all of a sudden and does not resolve within three days, you must see an ENT specialist right away.
Read Also: What Do You Understand By “Ear Infection”?
Prevention of Hearing Loss:
Follow the steps as mentioned below to prevent hearing loss:
- Get your ear checked periodically, for hearing loss, especially when working in a noisy environment
- Protect your ears from loud noise
- Use earplugs or earmuffs in noisy work environments
- Avoid smoking
Program for Screening of Newborns for Hearing Loss:
All newborn children born in hospitals should be screened for hearing loss before discharge as per top ENT Specialists.
Read Also: Sleep-Disordered Breathing (SDB) in Children
Why Newborn Hearing Screening?
Hearing is an important prerequisite of speech and language development. Any loss of hearing can adversely affect a child’s education, his / her socio-emotional skills and communication.
Early detection of hearing loss, on the other hand, will give early and lead to better chances of speech and language rehabilitation.
For further queries, book an appointment today with the best experts in ENT in Delhi NCR only at Yashoda Hospital, Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad. We offer the latest and best expertise for the evaluation and treatment of hearing loss.
Meet the Best ENT Specialist in Delhi NCR for Hearing Loss:
Dr. (Lt. Col.) Ravi Roy is a distinguished ENT specialist with over 20 years of experience in the field of otorhinolaryngology. With specialization in complex surgeries relating to CSF rhinorrhea and skull base surgeries, he is renowned for his expertise.
