Hearing loss: what it is and the different types

It may not seem like it, but the hearing loss It doesn't just affect the ears. It creates communication difficulties, which can isolate the patient and lead to depression.

Most hearing deficits are detected by examination of audiometryAs we age, an ear check-up becomes even more important.

So what now? How does hearing loss occur? Is there a treatment? Read more!

What is hearing loss and what are its forms?

Hearing loss is the déficit sensorial It's more common and, most often, associated with advancing age—which is something that happens to all of us, isn't it?

There are projections that, by 2050, 1 in 4 people will have hearing loss, as stated in... World Hearing Report According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the reason is that there will be 2 billion elderly people on the planet. In Brazil alone, this population will triple—comprising 29.3%.

To try and avoid this situation in old age, a phase in which it is indeed possible to have good health, simply start taking care of yourself as early as possible, such as avoiding loud music, cleaning your ears correctly, among other things.

Now, let's look at the possible types of hearing loss:

Conductive

Está relacionada a um problema na condução do som pelos ouvidos. É uma perda que ocorre quando há excesso de cera e deformidade nas orelhas, por exemplo. Esquematicamente, é o déficit auditivo que atinge a região mais externa do ouvido.

Neurosensory

In a slightly more internal region of the ear, sensorineural hearing loss can occur. This consists of damage to the sensory cells of the inner ear; in other words, sound arrives but is not "recognized." 

Mixed

If hearing loss occurs due to impaired sound conduction and recognition, that is, in both the outer and middle ear, the loss is considered mixed. This somewhat more severe case is more associated with chronic infections and trauma.

Neural or retrocochlear

It is difficulty hearing due to a problem in the innermost region of the ear, involving the auditory nerve. The dysfunction, in this type of hearing loss, occurs in the communication between the ear and the brain.

What are the main causes of hearing loss?

There are a variety of factors that can lead to hearing loss. Besides aging, consider the following:

• frequent ear infections;
• ear injuries;
• excess wax;
• Infectious diseases, such as meningitis and measles;
• foreign objects in the ear;
• Use of ototoxic medications;
• Noise in the workplace.

It is worth noting that each cause and severity of the condition can result in different degrees of hearing loss.

Normal hearing captures sounds of 20 decibels or less. Mild hearing loss ranges from 21 to 40 decibels, while in cases of total hearing loss, the reduction is more than 120 dB.

Fortunately, most of these causes are preventable, such as ear infections, excess earwax, and toxic medications. 

In addition, other preventive measures include the use of Personal Protective Equipment if there is a lot of noise at work, annual audiometry tests, etc.

Is it possible to recover hearing?

Now that you understand the most common mechanisms of hearing loss, let's look at how some of the possible treatments work.

Medicines

After a thorough evaluation, the otolaryngologist can prescribe specific medications and alleviate the problem conservatively.

Hearing aids

These are electronic devices capable of amplifying the volume of sounds. On the market, there are options with different sizes, button designs, and functionalities aimed at adapting to the widest range of patient profiles.

Implants

If the patient does not adapt to the hearing aid, they can use an implant — which can be a middle ear or cochlear implant. These are also electronic and transform sounds into electrical signals or stimulate the auditory nerve.

Surgeries

When hearing loss is triggered by physical factors, such as a perforated eardrum or calcifications, treatment consists of a simple surgical procedure. 

Toda hearing lossRegardless of its type and location, it is treatable. It inevitably appears with age, but early intervention can prevent complications.
Have you ever had difficulty conversing in crowded or noisy places? Do you feel like you can barely hear everyday sounds, like the ticking of a clock? Find an Oto Grupo location!