Do you need an ENT doctor for hearing loss? Hearing loss due to age is common and is called presbycusis. Hearing loss can be of the following kinds:
- Conductive hearing loss arises in the middle or outer ear.
- Sensorineural hearing loss only involves the inner ear
- Mixed hearing loss is the combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss
In most of the cases, hearing loss occurs due to exposure of ears to the loud noises or aging. Excessive earwax is also a factor that can temporarily impair your ears.
Types of hearing loss
As we have already mentioned above. There are three types of hearing loss:
1. Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing is the loss of hearing that occurs due to damage to the hair cells and inner ear nerves. The reason for the damage may be age factor, noise, or something else. Sensorineural hearing loss, as you can understand with the name, relates to your neural capability impacting the path between your inner ear and brain. Sometimes, you cannot correct this condition surgically, or medically but it treats with the help of hearing aids.
2. Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss is the result of any obstacle in the middle or outer ear causing you to hear loss. This may be due to tumors, fluid, earwax, or any formation inside your ear. Due to this, sound gets blocked, and doesn’t reach your inner ear. This condition may treat with medicines or surgery.
3. Mixed Hearing Loss
As by the name, you can have an idea of what mixed hearing loss is, it is a combination of both the above hearing losses. In order to get rid of any medical condition related to hearing loss, you need to understand the leading cause. Whenever you visit an ENT specialist, he will determine the type, cause, and severity of your condition. Dr. Michael Burnett is one of the best ENT specialists in Ney York. You can contact our clinic to set an appointment for your hearing loss.
CAUSES OF HEARING LOSS
Common causes of hearing loss include:
1. Disease and infection
Ear infections mostly occur in children and are bacterial. Parents should straight away visit an ENT specialist in such cases as ears of your child are delicate, and delay can cause severe consequences. Washing with impure water can also trigger an ear infection leading to hearing loss. Some illness that occurs in childhood, such as measles, mumps, and whooping cough can cause deafness. Parents should be aware of all the conditions and vaccinations to prevent their children from hearing loss.
2. Foreign bodies in the ear
The usage of cotton buds can cause damage that can be far more dangerous. When you clean your ears with a cotton bud, it pushes the ear wax into the ear canal, blocking your ear passage, stuffing the wax in front of your eardrum. When ear wax fills inside your ear path, it triggers the ear infection.
Furthermore, cotton buds, corners of the towel, fingers, handkerchiefs, etc., can increase the production of ear wax. Cleaning your ears with water when you are taking a shower is the best way.
3. Excessive noise at work
Noise levels above 85dB are hazardous to your ears. If the sound is higher, try to reduce or wear ear protection. You can also take some noise-reduction measures with the help of wall coverings and fitting carpeting. This can also reduce noise pollution inside your room.
4. Loud tools and machinery
Wear ear protection while working in the areas of loud tools and machinery. You should protect your ears and use earplugs when you are using a power drill or lawnmower.
5. Concerts and discos
People who visit concerts or clubs with loud music are more likely to occur hearing loss. The organizing teams should provide ear protections in the concerts as they cannot lower down the music. If they do not offer you ear protection, you can bring your earplugs. Never stand near speakers or loud environment for too long. Give your ears some break.
6. Lack of knowledge
You should educate your children from a young age about how they can take care of their ears. You should also be aware that electronic games, toy guns, toys with high noise can cause damage to your child’s ears.
Conclusion
People are unaware of the importance of protecting their ears. Exposure to loud music, using headphones with full volume, not protecting ears in noisy environments are common, and this is the reason why one-third of people in the United States are suffering from partial or permanent hear loss. To get a clear idea about protecting ears and recovery from hearing loss, contact us at 212-867-4813, and we will set-up your appointment with our ENT specialist.
