Hearing Loss
Hearing loss affects people in different ways. Over time, loss of hearing can influence communications and relationships with others in a negative way. By leaving a hearing impairment untreated, a physical condition may also become a psychological one. This is why it is so important to seek a solution promptly.
If you have hearing loss, then it helps to know that you’re not alone. About one in six people have some degree of hearing impairment. It’s reassuring to know that a properly fitted hearing aid can improve communication in at least 90% of people who have difficulty hearing.
Causes of Hearing Loss
So many things can cause hearing loss. Parents who learn something is wrong with their child’s hearing usually want to understand what caused it so they can find the most effective treatment option. Knowing the possible causes of hearing loss is also important to parents who want to help their kids avoid a hearing loss to the best of their ability.
The causes of infantile hearing loss are diverse. The most common are:
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Other risk factors before, during or shortly after birth include:
- Low birth weight and/or birth before the 32nd week of pregnancy
- Lack of oxygen or respiratory standstill
- Administration of ototoxic medicines (loop diurectics, aminoglycosides)
- Mechanical birth injuries
Children who have hearing loss often exhibit cerebral motor disturbances, delayed, slow or non-existent speech development, and abnormal behaviors such as being very loud, aggressive, or standing completely still.
Many people experience hearing loss after birth. Possible causes include:
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Noise-induced hearing loss.
The most common cause of hearing damage is a noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Damage can begin at a continuous stress level of 85 dB. If you listen to loud music at a concert or on your MP3-player, you may discover that you cannot hear well for some time afterward. This happens because the fine hair cells in your cochlea (inner ear organ responsible for hearing) have been at least temporarily damaged. After a period of quiet, they usually recover. This is called a temporary threshold shift (TTS).
But, being subjected to extreme noise stress over a long period can damage or destroy the hair cells, with no chance of regeneration. This is called a permanent threshold shift (PTS).
Noise stressors.
- Loud music. Listening to loud music at concerts or through headsets can be especially dangerous. The sound intensities through headsets can easily reach 110–120 dB. A sudden, explosive sound like a firecracker can also cause NIHL.
- On-the-job noise. People in loud work environments, such as construction, factory, and airport-tarmac workers, and musicians should wear hearing protection.
- Tinnitus. Noise stress can also cause tinnitus. This is often described as a ringing in the ears, but it can occur in a variety of forms and sound levels.
