Conductive & Sensorineural Hearing Loss

hearing loss cause symptom treatment

Conductive Hearing Loss Causes and .....

Hearing Problems Causes Noise Ranks High

causes hearing impairments in school aged children

Hearing problems causes is a broad subject indeed.  When  asked the question what causes hearing impairment of school aged children the answer is very long indeed today a guest article writer talks about noise which is certainly one of the answers to the question. However it’s true for more than just the children with over 28 million Americans have at least some hearing loss, and a growing number of them are baby boomers. As a generation raised on rock ‘n’ roll and other loud noise, this ubiquitous group possesses a young state of mind, but is often in denial about growing older and the damage it has done to its hearing. Inevitably, the condition will worsen unless steps are taken to prevent further damage.

According to a recent Healthy Hearing survey of adults ages 50-70 conducted on behalf of Energizer hearing aid batteries, almost seven out of 10 respondents (67.1 percent) are concerned about experiencing hearing loss, but only 30 percent feel it’s important enough to have their hearing checked. Furthermore, only 11.5 percent have had their hearing tested in the past year, making the other 88.5 percent overdue for a hearing screening.

Dr. Michael Valente, director of the Division of Adult Audiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo., has years of experience dealing with people affected by this condition. Testing is of course an early step after a physical examination of the ear to get to the bottom of hearing problems causes.

"Getting your hearing checked at an earlier age will put your mind at ease and help kick-start a healthier you," Valente says. "One of the biggest misconceptions of hearing loss is that people wait until they are older to get their hearing tested, when in reality, they should start yearly checkups around age 40. Moreover, restricting the amount of loud noise in the environment by wearing earplugs can prevent hearing damage."

It is inevitable in our world that we, or someone we love, will be affected by hearing loss. In fact, the survey also found that almost half of those surveyed (49.1 percent) are concerned their spouse is suffering from hearing loss. For those affected, learning how to communicate may require slight changes in communication, and Valente suggests the following six tips. Try to follow this sage advice so you don’t have to ask the question what causes hearing impairment in school aged children because you did.

1. Be in the same room with the person to whom you are speaking, and position yourself face to face.

2. Don’t raise your voice, because yelling or exaggerating words makes comprehension more difficult.

3. Turn off background noise, because noise from a television or radio may interfere with conversation.

4. Use assisted hearing technology available (at no charge) at most entertainment venues.

5. Take advantage of technological advances. New technology is introduced every three months, and hearing aids are now digital and smaller than ever.

6. Choose the right batteries for your hearing aids and your specific needs. For example, Energizer offers hearing aid batteries in convenient perforated packaging, as well as the Energizer EZ Change hearing aid battery dispenser, which reduces the chance of dropping or fumbling the batteries.

If you or a loved one struggles with hearing loss, talk to your doctor or see an audiologist and get your hearing tested. People who have trouble seeing get their eyes examined, but for some reason, hearing damage does not have the same sense of urgency, because the effects of hearing loss are gradual and increase over time. Valente agrees that people need to make it a priority to get their hearing screened once a year, and take preventative measures of avoiding before they do their damage the hearing problems causes to protect the hearing they have.

By: Wendy Mitchell

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Sudden Hearing Loss as Adults

temporary hearing loss causes

Sudden hearing loss as adults is one of the more common problems, which may be associated with various reasons. Read on to know about it.Take to heart the causes as many of them are a matter of lifestyle choices we might want to reconsider. Fortunately these are the ones likely to numbered among the temporary hearing loss causes.

A rapid loss of hearing is referred to as sudden hearing loss or sudden deafness. There is a sudden decrease or loss of hearing ability in one or both ears. Sudden hearing loss is a type of hearing loss of sensorineural origin. It may be accompanied by ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus or static sound in the ears and/or dizziness at the time or 12 hours prior to sudden hearing loss occurs. Sudden onset hearing hearing loss as adults is rightly considered as a medical emergency. It may result from dysfunction of middle or external ear. It is referred to as sudden conductive hearing loss. Hearing loss may also be due to dysfunction of inner ear or nerve. This condition is called as sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

There are various potential causes of sudden hearing loss as adults. the list is far from all inclusive but it gives an idea of the broad range of thing we must be on guard against. Some of the possible causes responsibble for the sudden onset hearing loss are:

  • Trauma, such as head injury
  • Certain infectious diseases
  • Immunologic diseases such as Cogan’s syndrome
  • Abnormal tissue growth
  • Toxic causes, such as snake bite
  • Circulatory problems in the inner ear due to artery blockage
  • Ototoxic drugs
  • Neurologic causes, such as multiple sclerosis
  • Sudden pressure changes in the ear during scuba diving and airplane travel
  • Previous ear surgery
  • Unusual physical exertion or strain
  • Recent upper respiratory infection
  • Certain drugs, such as birth control pills
  • Smoking
  • Acoustic trauma (sudden or prolonged exposure to loud noise)

Out of this list several will be only temporary hearing loss causes Some of the causes of sudden conductive hearing loss are middle ear infection, infection of external ear, ear wax blocked in the ear canal, or fluid accumulation within middle ear. Fluid accumulation may be due to sudden changes in the air pressure.

Some of the causes of sudden sensorineural hearing loss are viral infections, vascular compromise, immunologic disorders and intracochlear membrane ruptures.

All of these things responsible for sudden onset hearing loss can be a surprise and the event is always cause for up set.

By Reshma Jirage
Published: 11/7/2008

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Home Remedy as Ear Infection Treatment ?

Home Remedy as Ear Infection Treatment

The contents of this article reminds me to remind me you that there is no medical advice to be found on these pages. The information on this site is for just that informational purposes only, to educate you so that you may be the best consumer of medical help the educated consumer. It is always advisable to contact your physician in the matter of ear infection. What follows here are by no means to be taken as a recommendation to use any home treatment. It is more of a discussion of the history if you will of ear treatment and what others do. Some of it is good sound advice however you can not know without the proper training when to use these. The ear and the auditory system is not something to try and save money on or to aviod the effort of a trip to the doctor’s office. Additionally many of the below items are not well advised as home remedies. Don’t for instance use an anti biotic you may have left over from a previous infection that was had by you or another family member. Here you definitely must consult with your doctor.

There are different home remedies for outer ear and middle ear infection.
Infection caused inflammation of the ear is represented by a term "Otitis". There are 3 of these:

a -  External Otitis or Otitis externa
This is also called "Swimmer’s ear". The protective film on the top of the ear canal or lipid layer is removed. This canal looks ruddy and swollen. Such a condition arises when water, dirt, sand or some debris enters the ear canal. Malignant external otitis may form when bacteria attack the bones in the ear canal and spread to the base of the skull.

b-Middle Ear Infection or Otitis media
The middle ear lies behind the eardrum and is a small cavity of air. Infections that lead to sore throats, colds or breathing problems spread to the middle ear and cause Otitis media. When bacteria or viruses enter the middle ear, the area is filled with fluid containing germ fighting cells. The feeling is that the ear is a balloon about to pop and this hurts. This infection generally occurs in childhood.

c -  Labyrinthitis or Otitis interna
This affects the inner ear. This part of the ear has sense organs for hearing and balance. These organs are inflamed and the person feels as if the room is spinning.

Ear Infection Symptoms
If children have an ear infection, the symptoms are:

    * fluid drains from the ears
    * headache
    * fever
    * failure to respond to sounds
    * trouble to sleep
    * pulling at your ears

In the instance of swimmer’s ear, the symptoms of ear infection are:

    * sensation of fullness in the ear
    * itching
    * pain
    * moderate to severe pain
    * discharge
    * hearing loss

In the instance of middle ear infection, the symptoms are:
 
    * nasal congestion
    * sleeplessness
    * fever
    * coughing
    * irritability
    * loss of appetite
    * pain or discomfort in the ear
    * vomiting
   
     In the instance of Labyrinthitis, the symptoms are:

    * severe whirling nausea
    * nausea and vomiting

In the Matter of Ear infection treatment

When you have swimmer’s ear, some of the following home remedies might prove useful:

    * drops containing anti-inflammatory steroids enable to minimize swelling and itching
    * removing any debris like wax, pus and shed skin from the ear canal causes direct contact of the medication with the infected skin and hastens recovery
    * if the infection is mild, avoiding swimming and hair washing can cure the condition
    * topical solutions containing antibacterial or antifungal antibiotics acidify the ear and suppress bacterial growth
    * if there is severe soft tissue swelling, then oral anti-pseudomonal antibiotics are prescribed
    * drops containing anti-inflammatory steroids enable to minimize swelling and itching
    * remove debris like pus, wax and dead skin from the ear canal which causes the prevention of direct contact of the medication with the infected skin and retards effective and recovery

For the children having middle ear infection, the home remedies are as follows:
  * analgesics like Tylenol assuage the pain and fever
    * sinus or nasal congestion is overcome by an antihistamine and/or a decongestant
    * antibiotics like Amoxicillin, Septra, Ceclor, Bactrim, Augmentin, Pediazole and Suprax will result in improvement in forty-eight to seventy-two hours. However, these must be taken till the entire infection has disappeared
  

Some other home remedies are:

    * avoiding passive or second hand smoke and contact with people having colds
    * avoidingthe touching of the nose and ears
    * washing hands not periodically but rather frequently
    * increasing your zinc intake to minimize ear infections
    * increasing vitamin C to enhance the immune system for tackling infection
    * arranging a healthy diet with large amount of readily absorbable calcium
    * avoiding with great fervor processed foods and hydrogenated oils these are terriblle for you on every count.
   
Before the use of antibiotics as treatment, the following home remedies were popular

    *  to remove wax from ears
    * pressing a warm water bottle or warm bag of salt against the ear
    * drops of tea tree oil has mild anti-bacterial properties, but could irritate the skin

Sometimes the following home remedies  prove useful according to many who have used them:

    *  echinacea and golden seal are herbs that internally cleanse the body
    * consumption of dairy products must be avoided as they contribute to mucous
    * essential oils like ginger, peppermint and eucalyptus are mixed withsteaming  hot water in a bowl. A towel is held over the head and the steam is inhaled.

 

Ear Infection Causes - Home Remedy for Ear Infection - How To Cure

Ear infection is very much common among children but can affect any person at age. Some basic common causes behind it are cold, cough and some sort of.  

Home Remedies for Swimmers Ear - Causes and Treatment of Swimmer’s

There are several home remedies of swimmer ears which are proven to be very useful which are: Never scratch inside an ear with an object , as your eardrum may get damaged.

Causes of Earache - Detect Ear Infection and Ear Aches Early - Ear

Earache is not a disease specifically attached with kid or adults. Anybody at any age can get affected by it. The most common cause for this problem is intake. .

American Speech Language Hearing Association

Medline

Hearing Loss Association of America

National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

National Institute of Health

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Preliminary Exam for Sudden Hearing Loss Cause and Treatment

The ear and the auditory system are complex indeed and so before treatment for sudden hearing loss can begin a thorough examination will take place. When  you experience sudden hearing loss you can expect to get a series of questions which will include these:

What do you do for a living? What is the level of noise in the place you work?
Is there  a history of ear infection, injury, and straining to hear?
Is there  a history of stroke, diabetes of any kind,  heart disease?
What medications are you currently taking? Have you taken in the last several months?
Did you receive any intravenous antibiotics, diuretics, salicylates, or chemotherapy?
When did first notice that a  hearing loss had begun?
Did your hearing loss come on suddenly , or has your hearing slowly been getting worse?
Is your hearing loss in one or both ears as far as you can tell?
Have you been having ringing in your ear, fullness in your ear, dizziness, ear drainage, or ear pain?
Have there been occurences of hearing loss in your family?

recommendations for routine hearing tests
The physical examination will include but not necessarily be limited to:

The physical examination begins palpation and visual inspection of  periauricular & auricle tissues. An otoscope will be used to examine the most external auditory canal for things that can be the source cerumen, foreign bodies, and abnormalities of the canal skin. Next the mobility, color, and surface anatomy of the tympanic membrane is to be determined. Use of pneumatic bulb is will be required to accurately assess the tympanic membrane and the aeration of the middle ear.

Some routine and simple hearing tests will be performed.

The Rinne test compares air conduction to bone conduction. A tuning fork which is struck softly and then placed on the mastoid bone . When a patient is no longer able to hear the sound, the tuning fork will be placed next  to the ear canal .When there is normal hearing or sensorineural hearing loss, air conduction is better than bone conduction and sound is still heard when the tuning fork is placed next to the ear canal. In the presence of conductive hearing loss, bone conduction is superior to air conduction, and the sound isn’t heard when the tuning fork is placed next to the canal.

Weber’s test is performed with the softly striking of a  tuning fork and placing it midline on the patient’s scalp,  the forehead, nasal bones, or teeth. If the hearing loss is conductive, the sound will be heard better in the affected ear. If the loss is sensorineural, the sound will be heard better in the normal ear. Sound will remain midline in the patient who has normal hearing.

By whispering softly into the patient’s ear or holding a softly ticking wristwatch at a close distance from  the ear will  be helpful in making a gross evaluation of hearing.

A close examination of the entire body area close to the region of the ears will be done including the neck, shoulders, cranial nerves and the entire head.

Audiography will be considered at this point for a better evaluation of the precise level of the hearing loss.

There are a number of further tests and observations that can and are made by the examining physician when it is deemed appropriate. At this point the doctor has a good idea of the the sudden hearing loss cause and treatment.

 

American Speech Language Hearing Association

 

Medline

 

Hearing Loss Association of America

 

National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

 

National Institute of Health

 

http://www.hearinglosscausesymptomstreatment.com/sensorineural-hearing-loss-causes

http://www.hearinglosscausesymptomstreatment.com/temporary-hearing-loss-causes

http://www.hearinglosscausesymptomstreatment.com/a-home-test-for-hearing-loss

http://www.hearinglosscausesymptomstreatment.com/hearing-problems-causes-blog

http://www.hearinglosscausesymptomstreatment.com/causes-of-hearing-impairment

http://www.hearinglosscausesymptomstreatment.com/hearing-loss-from-viral-infect

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Hearing Loss from Viral Infection

An infection of the ear will sometimes cause a temporary or reversible hearing loss. Generally this occurs because the infection creates blockage that prevents sound from passing through the ear canal or middle ear to the inner ear. When sound is blocked like this, it is known as conductive hearing loss. You may hear sounds as muffled or indistinct.

ear dpicted explanation temporary hearing loss causes

Some of the Types of infections that have been known to be a  cause of a temporary or reversible hearing loss include:

    * Middle ear infection, the otitis media. When some swelling and pus have blocked sound from transversing to the inner ear. A person’s hearing will usually return on its own when the infection has been treated and gone away. Untreated middle ear infections may cause permanent damage to the structures of the middle ear that results in permanent hearing loss. But this is rare. Most ear infections get better on their own. And few ear infections cause permanent damage.
    * Fluids in the space that lies behind the eardrum ,the otitis media with effusion. This  occurs with or without infection.  Excessive fluid accumulation can and does distort sound as it blocks the sounds passage to the inner ear. Fluid behind the eardrum usually clears on its own, although the eardrum may burst if the fluid in the middle ear becomes infected.

    * Infection caused inflammation of the ear canal ,the otitis externa. This condition is often referred to as “swimmer’s ear,”  even though too much water in the ear is not the only cause. The inflammation, the swelling, or the buildup (exudate) in the ear canal may block sound from moving to the middle ear. Hearing usually returns on its own after the infection goes away.

Ear infections are among the most commom of temporary hearing loss causes but this does not mean that they are to be taken lightly. They need to addressed quickly for the health of the ear.

Ear infections are most common in children, but they can occur at any age. This cause of hearing loss can almost always be found during a normal visit to your doctor. When this is not the case he will refer you to the specialist  best suited to the issue at hand.

 

 Treatment of Middle Ear Infections

Observation without antibiotic treatment: Many ear infections are viral or will resolve on their own without antibiotics. Therefore, it is reasonable in certain cases to treat the pain

 

Medical Blog  Middle Ear Infection

If the infection has been properly treated, the fluid behind the eardrum usually goes away with time. As long as fluid is present, there will be some hearing loss. Once the fluid goes 

 

To Hear or Not to Hear….that is the Question?

He explained to her that her hearing loss is the result of a bacterial infection, a viral infection, or an auto-immune problem. He told her hers was clearly the result of a bacterialogical infection.

American Speech Language Hearing Association

Medline

Hearing Loss Association of America

National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

National Institute of Health

http://www.hearinglosscausesymptomstreatment.com/

 

http://www.hearinglosscausesymptomstreatment.com/sensorineural-hearing-loss-causes

 

http://www.hearinglosscausesymptomstreatment.com/temporary-hearing-loss-causes

 

http://www.hearinglosscausesymptomstreatment.com/a-home-test-for-hearing-loss

 

http://www.hearinglosscausesymptomstreatment.com/hearing-problems-causes-blog

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