There are many different types of hearing loss, and one of these is known inner ear damage. This is specific to the inner parts of the ear, and can also be referred to as a vestibular disorder. People who have inner ear damage report symptoms such as dizziness and unsteadiness, and sometimes tinnitus.
There are two types of inner ear damage, peripheral vestibular dysfunctions and central vestibular dysfunctions. The first often causes a feeling of extreme vertigo, which may include sickness and sweating, and the latter may be caused by an illness, such as multiple sclerosis.
How Can Inner Ear Damage Be Treated?
- Prevent it occurring. The most important way to protect your ears from inner ear damage is to stay safe. Extreme sports can lead to inner ear damage, as can any kind of head trauma, so it’s very important to protect yourself if you are participating in activities like this.
- Check medication side effects. Many types of medication can affect your hearing, and you should always talk to your doctor about the side effects of any medication you are given. If someone in your family has experienced hearing loss or inner ear damage after taking medication, you should discuss this with your doctor before taking anything.
- Be aware of developments. The hair cells in the ears are a vital part of the auditory processing system, and if they are damaged, they do not re-grow by themselves. However, advances in medical research are highlighting the potential for stem cell therapy, which may be used to treat many types of hearing loss.
- Tinnitus treatments. If the inner ear damage you have sustained has left you with tinnitus, a ringing in the ears that does not go away, you may be able to relieve the condition with sound therapy. Some people have had success treating tinnitus with hearing aids, and some advocate the use of white noise to ‘distract’ the brain from the tinnitus itself.
Visit Hidden Hearing to Find Great Hearing Aids
If you are concerned about your hearing, the first step is to make an appointment with one of our expert audiologists at Hidden Hearing. Some hearing problems can be as simple as an excess of ear wax, and a simple ear wax removal can solve the problem. If you do discover that you have a hearing loss, you’ll be in the right place to talk to us about what to do.
Visit us at Hidden Hearing for a free hearing test and try our range of excellent digital hearing aids to find the best hearing solution for you and your lifestyle. We have seventy-five branches and clinics across Ireland, so simply call us or pop in to make an appointment to see an audiologist today.