{"id":496,"date":"2019-05-31T15:20:17","date_gmt":"2019-05-31T15:20:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.uthscsa.edu\/lsom-otolaryngology\/?page_id=496"},"modified":"2020-05-18T20:10:22","modified_gmt":"2020-05-18T20:10:22","slug":"hearing-loss","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/lsom.uthscsa.edu\/otolaryngology\/hearing-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"Hearing Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How We Hear<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The process of hearing involves a complicated pathway as sound waves travel from the outer ear, through the middle ear, to the cochlea and then up the auditory nerve to the auditory centers in the brain, where sounds are interpreted and processed for understanding. \u00a0Damage to any structure between the outer ear and the brain can cause hearing impairment, reducing and distorting the message. Hearing loss can be transient or permanent, visit your Audiologist or Physician to determine what type of hearing loss you have and its treatment options.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What Causes Hearing Loss?<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The 3 Most Common Causes of Hearing Loss in Adults Are:<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Aging\/Genetics<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Noise Exposure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ototoxic Medications<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Additional Causes of Hearing Loss include:<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Trauma to the head (may cause perforation of eardrum, disarticulation of middle ear bones, or concussive trauma in cochlea, etc.)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Infection<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Meniere&#8217;s Disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tumors<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Otosclerosis<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Congenital Disorders<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Physical blockage (wax buildup or foreign object stuck in ear)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you think you have a hearing loss, you should see a doctor to get a hearing test to determine the cause and whether or not it is permanent or temporary.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Types of Hearing Loss<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Conductive: \u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Permanent or transient.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Causes: Infection, malformation of auditory structures.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Treatment: Medication, surgery<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mixed:<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Medication or surgery may improve conductive component<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sensorineural:<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Permanent<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Typically due to damage\/death of outer\/inner hair cells of cochlear or nerve damage\/disuse<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most common type of HL in adult &amp; geriatric populations<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Central:<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Typically permanent<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Characterized by poor speech discrim scores<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Any damage past the peripheral system (higher in the brain)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Why Do I Think I Hear Fine, But My Family Says I Have Hearing Loss?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hearing loss is often a slowly progressive condition that isn\u2019t noticed at first and is additionally, frequently denied by the individual suffering from impairment. \u00a0People frequently blame others for mumbling, not speaking clearly and not facing me when they talk, a sign that the person is relying partially on lip reading.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 2006, 37 million adults in the United States identified themselves as having difficulty hearing (ranging from a little trouble to being deaf). [<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1]<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Warning Signs of Hearing Loss<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some warning signs include:<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Asking people to repeat themselves<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Missing large parts of conversations when there is a lot of background noise<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Complaining that people around you are mumbling when they speak<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Inability to hear common sounds like doorbells and blinkers in cars<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you think you have a hearing loss, please contact your physician soon. In some cases, hearing loss can be prevented from worsening.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Consequences of Untreated Hearing Loss<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Studies have linked untreated hearing loss to: [<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2]<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Irritability, negativism and anger<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Fatigue, tension, stress and depression<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Avoidance or withdrawal from social situations<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Social rejection and loneliness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reduced alertness and increased risk to personal safety<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Impaired memory and ability to learn new tasks<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reduced job performance and earning power<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Diminished psychological and overall health<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When to Contact a Medical Professional<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Call your health care provider if: [<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">3]<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hearing problems interfere with your lifestyle<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hearing problems do not go away or become worse<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The hearing is worse in one ear than the other<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You have sudden, severe hearing loss or ringing in the ears (tinnitus)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You have other symptoms, such as <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nlm.nih.gov\/medlineplus\/ency\/article\/003046.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">ear pain<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, along with hearing problems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You have new headaches, weakness, or numbness anywhere on your body<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text el_class=&#8221;panel&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>References<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">[1]<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pleis JR, Lethbridge-Cejku M. Summary health statistics for U.S. adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2006. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 10 (235). 2007.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">[2]<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.betterhearing.org\/hearing_loss\/consequences_of_hearing_loss\/index.cfm\">Kochkin, Sergei. Consequences of Hearing Loss. \u00a0Better Hearing Institute.<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">[3]<\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nlm.nih.gov\/medlineplus\/ency\/article\/003044.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health. Medline Plus. Medical Encyclopedia. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2008.\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text] How We Hear The process of hearing involves a complicated pathway as sound waves travel from the outer ear, through the middle ear, to the cochlea and then up the auditory nerve to the auditory centers in the brain, where sounds are interpreted and processed for understanding. \u00a0Damage to any structure between the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":161,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/child-page.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-496","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Hearing Loss - 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