Ear and kidney syndromes: Molecular versus clinical approach
Hearing Disabilities
Hearing (or auditory) disabilities are usually defined by a decreased ability or total inability to hear (deafness).
Individuals who are hard of hearing, or don't hear well, and individuals who are unable to hear, or are deaf, would typically be considered to have a hearing disability. Hearing impairment or loss can be congenital, can happen over time, can occur later in life, can be the result of injury or aging, can be in one ear or both, can be temporary or permanent, or can be caused by any number of factors.
Types and degrees of hearing loss and disabilitiesThere are typically considered to be four types of hearing loss:
Hearing loss can be mild, moderate, moderately severe, severe, or profound, according to Hearing Health Foundation: Degrees of Hearing Loss.
Hearing disability statisticsStatistics and measurements on disability always vary according to the definitions and reporting methods used. In general, the prevalence of hearing disability increases with age.
Key metrics on hearing disability:
Sudden Hearing Loss In One Ear: What You Need To Know And How To Seek Help
Medically reviewed by Renee Nilan, MDMedically reviewed by Renee Nilan, MD
Experiencing sudden hearing loss in one ear can be frustrating. Fortunately, about half of people who have sudden hearing loss regain their hearing without treatment, and 75% recover their hearing with treatment.
There are two types of sudden hearing loss. Sudden conductive hearing loss is caused by earwax or another blockage. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL), which is less common, is caused by loss of sensitivity in the nerves. It can be caused by a tumor, a head trauma, or other health problems.
Sudden hearing loss may also accompany other symptoms, including ringing ears (tinnitus) and dizziness.
Continue reading to learn more about hearing loss or sudden muffled hearing in one ear, including how to fix it and whether you can expect your hearing to improve.
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Symptoms of Sudden Hearing Loss in One EarThe most common symptom of sudden hearing loss in one ear is not being able to hear as well out of that ear. Some people will experience total hearing loss, while others will experience a muffled sound or a reduction in hearing.
Oftentimes, people wake up with sudden hearing loss, but it doesn't always occur first thing in the morning. The hearing loss may not occur all at once, but over several days. It may come on with the following symptoms:
A pop before hearing loss
Tinnitus (may occur in one or both ears)
Dizziness
Pressure within the ear
Vertigo
In most cases, people never identify the cause of their sudden hearing loss. However, sudden hearing loss can broadly be divided into two categories: sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) and sudden conductive hearing loss.
Sudden Sensorineural Hearing LossSSHL is the most common type of sudden hearing loss in one ear (although some people will experience it in both ears). SSHL is caused by loss of sensitivity in the nerves in the ears.
Only about 10% to 15% of people with SSHL have a clear reason for the loss of hearing. The most common causes of SSHL, when they're able to be identified, are:
Sudden hearing loss can also be caused by:
A tumor, particularly on the nerve that connects the ear to the brain
Neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis
Ear disorders, including Ménière's disease
Certain drugs, including chemotherapy drugs, that can cause ototoxicity, or hearing loss due to medication
Conductive hearing loss happens when something blocks sound from permeating the ear. Usually, materials like earwax or fluid buildup over time, so the hearing loss is not sudden. However, people may experience sudden conductive hearing loss if they have a foreign object in their ear or an injury to the ear drum.
Is Sudden Hearing Loss an Emergency?SSHL is an emergency, and should be treated immediately with a trip to the emergency room. Conductive hearing loss is not an emergency, although it may require prompt medical attention. Try the hum test to see what type of hearing loss you're experiencing. If you hum and the noise is louder in the ear with normal hearing, you are experiencing SSHL and should seek emergency medical care. If the hum sounds louder in the ear that has hearing loss, you're experiencing conductive hearing loss. You should call your healthcare provider, but do not need to go to the emergency room.
How Is Sudden Hearing Loss Diagnosed?Sudden hearing loss is diagnosed using a hearing test called pure tone audiometry. You have hearing loss if you experience a loss of 30 decibels (the level of the sound of a nearby whisper) of sound. If normal conversation sounds like whispering, you're experiencing hearing loss.
Once healthcare providers have diagnosed you with hearing loss, they may do other tests to determine why it has occurred. They'll often examine your ears to rule out conductive hearing loss. Then, they may order a magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI) and blood tests to find the root cause.
Treatment OptionsIf you're experiencing conductive hearing loss, the healthcare provider will help remove whatever is blocking your hearing. That might mean removing a foreign object from your ear, or clearing earwax.
The treatment for SSHL is more complicated. Corticosteroids (either injected or taken in pill form) are the most common treatment, especially if your healthcare provider doesn't know what's causing the SSHL.
If your healthcare provider can identify the underlying cause of SSHL, they will treat it. They may prescribe antibiotics if they think a bacterial infection is contributing to your hearing loss. If a tumor is causing the hearing loss, they may recommend surgery to remove it. Healthcare providers can prescribe drugs to suppress the immune system for autoimmune diseases.
People can regain their hearing with treatment, but if your hearing doesn't return your healthcare provider may recommend hearing aids to help you cope with the sudden hearing loss.
When to Contact a Healthcare ProviderYou should always see a healthcare provider when you experience sudden hearing loss in one ear. Early treatment is important, especially if the loss comes on suddenly or you believe you might be experiencing SSHL. People who delay treatment are less likely to regain their hearing, so seeing a healthcare provider soon is crucial.
SummaryThere are two types of sudden hearing loss in one ear. The most common is caused by sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Sometimes, sudden hearing loss can be caused by a blockage from earwax or a foreign object. Most people regain their hearing after sudden hearing loss, but it's important to see a healthcare provider promptly. Your chances of regaining your hearing are best if you get treatment quickly.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
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Hearing Loss And The Risk Of Dementia
Age-related hearing loss and dementiaAge-related hearing loss is a common condition affecting older people. It often starts with problems hearing what other people say, especially in noisy environments. Symptoms can start gradually and be difficult to notice. This makes early detection and treatment difficult.
There are two types of hearing loss: peripheral hearing loss and central hearing loss.
You may be able to book a free hearing test at your local optician or speak to your GP about being referred to an audiologist (a doctor for hearing). This will show up any hearing issues and provide ways of managing them, such as using a hearing aid.
Studies have shown that people who use hearing aids are less likely to develop dementia. Hearing aid use was also associated with fewer memory problems and thinking problems independent of dementia. Tracking hearing aid use over a long period showed that it was associated with less decline in memory skills.
Often, managing hearing loss works best when you start doing it early on. This means protecting your hearing from a young age. For example, you can avoid listening to loud noises for long periods and wear ear protection when necessary.
The link between hearing loss and dementia riskif a person's hearing worsens in mid-life, their risk of developing dementia when they are older increases.
People with hearing problems may be more likely to withdraw from social situations and become more isolated over time. Social isolation and depression are both risk factors for dementia.
Hearing loss may also mean that the areas of the brain that help us understand sounds and speech have to work harder to understand what sounds are. This additional effort may lead to changes in the brain that affects our memory and thinking abilities.
The link between hearing loss and dementia is not fully explained, but it does not mean that someone with hearing loss will go on to develop dementia – just that their risk is higher.
It is possible that hearing loss is a risk factor for dementia, or an early symptom, or both, but it is very difficult to determine on an individual basis.
Research on hearing loss and dementiaThere have been many studies looking into the association between peripheral hearing loss and memory and thinking problems, or dementia.
A large piece of work looked at all the things that are related to an increased risk of developing dementia. When assessing a risk factor, researchers look at the number of people who develop dementia who have that risk factor, compared to those who don't. In this case, researchers analysed many studies and showed that hearing loss is one of twelve main factors that leads to the highest risk of developing dementia.
Nearly double the amount of people with mild hearing loss (at the World Heath Organization threshold for diagnosis of hearing loss) will develop dementia compared to those without hearing loss. The risk tripled with moderate hearing loss and was nearly five times with severe hearing loss.
Even low levels of hearing loss have been associated with increased dementia risk and a decrease in memory and thinking skills. Hearing loss has also been shown to be linked to quicker shrinkage of areas of the brain responsible for processing sounds and memories.
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