Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is a common problem that can occur to anyone at any age. It can either be caused by neurological conditions, genetics, diseases, or other factors like noise and aging. Hearing is a big part of effective communication and hearing loss can have a significant effect on the way we interact with others. 



If you or a loved one are experiencing hearing loss, consider booking an appointment with one of our doctors. 

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

Social Effects of Hearing Loss

People suffering from hearing loss tend to experience difficulty in various social situations. They might find it difficult to have conversations in large groups or participate in conversations in public spaces with lots of background noise. 



Even small family gatherings can be stressful and overwhelming due to the additional mental effort required to decode what’s being said. Eventually, those experiencing mild to severe hearing loss might be so stressed out by social situations that they withdraw altogether.   


If you or a loved one are experiencing hearing loss, it’s important to get checked out. That way, you can get to the root of the problem and determine if the hearing loss is temporary or permanent. If it is permanent, then hearing aids can help alleviate the stress of struggling to hear. Rather than concealing your hearing loss, getting treated can significantly improve social situations. 

Physical Effects of Hearing Loss 

People suffering from mild to severe hearing loss tend to experience more physical consequences than those with normal hearing or those who use hearing aids. Some of these conditions include tiredness, stress, headaches, vertigo, and so on. 



This occurs because auditory deprivation tends to leave certain nerves and parts of the brain unused, eventually leading to atrophy of the auditory system. The longer a person waits to address their hearing loss, the harder it is to recover their ability to communicate. 

Presbycusis 

Hearing loss isn’t always noise-induced and also occurs due to old age. This condition is called presbycusis. One of the most common signs of presbycusis is bilateral symmetrical hearing loss, which means both ears lose the ability to hear the same tones at essentially the same rate. 



Since there tends to be a gradual change in hearing, it’s not usually noticed at first. Presbycusis starts as early as in your teens and tends to affect your ability to hear high-pitched noises. It only becomes noticeable much later in life, after a lot of cumulative loss.

 

While it is difficult to pinpoint the exact deterioration of your hearing, an accurate hearing test could reveal if you’re having difficulty hearing specific sounds and provide solutions to aid your hearing. If you or a loved one are finding it increasingly difficult to hear high-pitched tones or sounds that you could once hear, please make an appointment at ENT Medical and Surgical Group. Consult with one of our specialists for a diagnosis and comprehensive treatment plan. 

Surgery for Cholesteatoma

Cholesteatomas are skin-lined cysts that form around the eardrum and invade the middle ear and mastoid (the bone located behind your ear). These cysts tend to grow aggressively and also retain bacteria, leading to frequent infections that don’t leave until the cholesteatoma is removed. 



Cholesteatomas can also cause hearing loss by eating away at the hearing bones (malleus, incus, stapes) that carry sound to the middle ear. In worst-case scenarios, this erosion can allow the spread of infection outside the middle ear, leading to severe conditions like facial nerve paralysis, labyrinthitis, or even meningitis or a brain abscess. Once a cholesteatoma is discovered, it’ll have to be surgically removed

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

Earwax and Subsequent Blockage 

Earwax is a normal part of life and is even essential to our overall well-being. The medical term for earwax is cerumen. It’s responsible for protecting the skin of the ear canal, helping with cleaning and lubrication, and guarding the ear against water, bacteria, and fungi. 


However, in some cases, excess earwax in the ear canal can lead to blockage and subsequent problems like infections, partial hearing loss, and more.

Should You Use Cotton Swabs to Clean Your Ears?

In a word—no. This is because your ear canals are responsible for cleaning themselves. Mostly, through minions of the jaw, like chewing, yawning, and so on. Cleaning your ear with cotton swabs or other objects tends to do more harm than good, leaving your ear canal blocked, itchy, or infection-prone. Other cleaning methods, like ear candles, are also not recommended since they can cause burns and perforations in the ear canal or middle ear. 



Most people tend to resort to the cleaning methods mentioned above due to excessive accumulation of earwax, blocked ear canals, and more. However, it’s a better idea to reach out to our clinic. We can prescribe ear drops or professionally clean your ears. The cleaning method will usually depend on the severity of the situation.

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
Share by: