There are three types of hearing loss - conductive, sensorineural and mixed.
Conductive hearing loss
Conductive hearing loss occurs when there is a blockage in the outer or middle ear, or both. This makes it difficult for sound waves to reach the cochlea (the part of the ear that converts sound waves into electrical signals to send to the brain). A conductive loss can be temporary in nature and in some cases may be treated medically or surgically. Hearing aids may also be prescribed for patients with a conductive hearing loss.
Sensorineural hearing loss
This occurs when there is a problem in the inner ear or the auditory nerve. The most common condition associated with a sensorineural hearing loss affects the hair cells in the ear that are responsible for picking up high-pitched sounds. This is referred to as presbyacusis or age-related hearing loss.
Damage to the hair cells can be a result of:
- Excessive noise exposure
- Meniere's Syndrome
- Diseases such as meningitis
- Ototoxic drugs (drugs with side effects that affect hearing)
Because sensorineural loss often affects the hair cells that detect soft, high-pitched sounds, it can be very difficult to hear speech clearly, especially when there is competing background noise. This type of loss is permanent, however it can usually be addressed with hearing aids.
Mixed hearing loss
When a conductive hearing loss occurs in combination with a sensorineural hearing loss, it is known as mixed hearing loss. Mixed hearing loss usually responds well to hearing aids, and other treatments to address the conductive component of the hearing loss may also be sought.
If you think you may have experiences of any of these hearing losses CALL 1800 370 000 for a FREE Hearing test or Book Online.
MP3 / Headphones
It is well known that long term exposure to loud noise can damage hearing, sometimes so severely that it can induce deafness. Noise in the workplace is one of the most common causes of hearing impairment and teenagers have been warned about the dangers of loud music at pop concerts for as long as pop culture has existed.
Today, there is a new danger and few people probably realise that they are unintentionally damaging their hearing just by listening to an mp3 player or ipod through earphones at high volume for just an hour every day. A recent study by scientists looking at emerging health risks in Europe concluded that using earphones and playing loud music every day for five years could cause permanent and irreversible hearing problems. Five years seems like a long time, but listening to music through ear phones for longer each day would have the same effect in a much shorter time.
Workplace Noise
Today, noise problems in the workplace can still cause deafness in developing countries, or in those without regulations. However, Europe, the USA and Australia have stringent rules about just how much noise workers can be exposed to to protect them from hearing damage.
Agreed regulations have set the danger level for noise at 85 decibels. Exposure to sound that is louder than this is known to cause permanent hearing damage. The louder the sound, the less time required to cause problems. Being close to a very loud explosion can instantly damage hearing. Health and Safety experts advise people should not be exposed to noise over 105 decibels for longer than 2 minutes at a time.
Many conditions of hearing impairment or discomfort can be avoided by employing a few basic hygiene guidelines and some common sense.
Damage to your ears caused by water can be avoided or minimised by remembering a few simple rules. Try to avoid unnecessary submersion under water such as when bathing, showering or swimming. If you are a keen traveller, remember to suck a boiled sweet when tasking off or landing to help open the Eustachian in your ear, therefore helping to prevent the feeling of ‘popping’ and any associated discomfort. This can even prevent perforation of the eardrum as it tries to adjust to changes in pressure.
If you have had, or are currently suffering, from a head cold before flying, try taking some decongestant medication for a few days leading up to the flight as this will also help to clear and unblock the Eustachian tube.It cannot be stressed enough that ears are, on the whole, self- cleaning and do not require any assistance in removing wax. It is old fashioned practice to use a cotton bud, hair grip or any other device to clean the inside of your ears. Wax should be naturally excreted from your ears, but if you feel you have a build-up of wax, see your GP in order to have this officially diagnosed, treated and to determine any underlying cause for the build-up.
If you think you may have experiences of any of these hearing losses CALL 1800 370 000 for a FREE Hearing test or Book Online.
