I have a family of 5 peoples where I have seen my grandparent’s were not comfortable sometimes because of HEARING LOSS. And that made all of us very much caring for my grand parents as we cant let them go out without any other member of my family. so i search WHAT IS HEARING LOSS
What is Hearing loss?
Hearing loss is a condition where a person’s ability to hear sounds is diminished, either partially or completely. It can affect one or both ears and can range from mild to profound. so just to find out our grandparents condition we went to Audiologist which was recommended by our family physician. And after visiting we find out there are majorly 3 types of hearing loss. which will help to understand what is hearing loss?
There are two main types of hearing loss:
Now you may thing I was said three types, But here I said two types let me explain in details:
- Conductive hearing loss: This type of hearing loss occurs when sound waves cannot pass efficiently through the outer or middle ear. It can be caused by conditions such as ear infections, fluid buildup, or a perforated eardrum.
2. Sensorineural hearing loss: This type of hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the inner ear or the nerves that transmit sound signals from the inner ear to the brain. It can be caused by factors such as aging, exposure to loud noises, certain medications, or genetic factors.
In some cases, a person may experience a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, which is known as mixed hearing loss.
Hearing loss can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life, making it difficult to communicate with others, enjoy social activities, or even perform daily tasks. It is important to seek medical evaluation and treatment if you are experiencing any symptoms of hearing loss, such as difficulty understanding speech, ringing in the ears, or a feeling of fullness in the ears.
after listening to all this conversation from our very senior audiologist we have decided to go for a hearing aid. which will help him to hear better. But I wanted to understand more about hearing loss so I decided to stay back with the audiologist and understand more on hearing loss and ask few question,
Question on what is hearing loss?
- What are the causes of hearing loss?
Ans: The causes of hearing loss may be many, Such as loud noises, Aging, infection, external wax, Certain medications, Truama to the ear this can be the factor which is cause the hearing loss. - What are the symptoms of hearing loss?
Ans: The symptoms of hearing loss can vary depending on the severity of the condition. Some common symptoms are as follows, difficulty understanding speech, asking people to repeat themselves which is very common in hearing loss nature, Turning up the volume on electronic devices like while watching Television and on FM, and feeling like others are mumbling or not speaking clearly, Which is very common. - Can hearing loss be treated?
Ans: The treatment for hearing loss depends on the cause and severity of the condition of ear and hearing loss. In some cases, hearing aids are the best option suggested by the most of the audiologist, In some cases the cochlear implants, or other assistive devices can help improve a person’s hearing. In other cases, medical or surgical intervention may be necessary which is depended on the different situations. - How is hearing loss diagnosed?
Ans: Hearing loss is typically diagnosed through a hearing test which can be conducted at the sound treated booth, Which involves measuring a person’s ability to hear sounds of different frequencies and volumes. This test we called Pure Tone Audiometry. - Can hearing loss be prevented?
Ans: Many cases of hearing loss can be prevented by taking steps to protect your ears from loud noises, such as wearing earplugs or earmuffs when working in noisy environments but this is also dependent on work life or social life situations. It is also important to avoid putting foreign objects in the ear and to seek prompt treatment for ear infections. Its always advisable to visit nearest ENT for primary test and for better resolution you can take a appointment of senior or experienced audiologist.