COMMON CAUSES OF HEARING LOSS

There are three types of hearing loss - conductive, sensorineural and mixed.

Conductive Hearing Loss

With a conductive hearing loss, the inner ear functions normally; however, an abnormality of the outer or middle ear, hinders sound from reaching the inner ear. Conductive hearing losses are mild-to-moderate in degree and are usually temporary and treatable.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs in the inner ear. Tiny hair cells which detect sound may not be working properly or have become damaged. Sometimes the auditory nerve may not be transmitting the sounds correctly. This prevents nerve impulses from reaching the brain and therefore, the individual with sensorineural hearing loss will not hear completely.

Mixed Hearing Loss

Sometimes a combination of factors occurs which effects both the middle ear and the inner ear, resulting in a mixed hearing loss.

>> Causes of Conductive Hearing Loss
>> Causes of Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Causes of Conductive Hearing Loss

• Wax (cerumen)
  When wax becomes impacted in the ear canal, it acts as an ear plug, blocking sound waves from striking the eardrum. Excessive wax may be softened with wax-softening drops and flushed out or removed by a physician or other trained personnel. Q-tips should never be used to remove impacted wax because they may push the wax deeper into the canal or puncture the eardrum if inserted too deeply.
  
  
• Foreign Objects
  Small objects inserted into the ears, often by small children, can block sound or rupture an eardrum.
  
  
• Swimmer's Ear
  A painful bacterial infection of the outer ear, Swimmer's Ear can cause the ear canal to swell shut, resulting in temporary hearing loss. It may occur when the ear canal remains wet after bathing or swimming.
  
  
• Otitis Media (middle ear infection)
  This is the most common cause of conductive hearing loss in children, Otitis media is a general term used to describe a variety of conditions affecting the middle ear. More than 85% of all children will have at least one ear infection in childhood. In fact, ear infections are second only to well-baby checks as the reason for office visits to a physician.
  
  There are various forms and causes of otitis media. The single most frequent factor is infected adenoids which harbor bacteria or obstruct the Eustachian tube that connects the middle ear with the back of the nose.
  
  Ear infections also may result from upper respiratory infections or exposure to cigarette smoke. The two most common types of otitis media are acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion.
  
  
• Acute Otitis Media (AOM)
  Ear pain, fever, restlessness and some hearing loss are common symptoms of acute otitis media. This type of ear infection may heal by itself or respond to antibiotics.
  
  In some cases, acute otitis media may cause the ear drum to rupture, causing fluid drainage from the ear. If left untreated, it could lead to more severe middle or inner ear conditions.
  
  
• Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) (fluid)
  Frequently follows an episode of acute otitis media. OME occurs when fluid remains in the middle ear, impeding ear drum vibrations and middle ear bone movement. This can cause mild-to-moderate degrees of hearing loss. In very young children, this hearing loss may hinder spoken language development.
  
  The treatment of otitis media with effusion is controversial. Sometimes the infection heals on its own or with the help of antibiotics or myringotomy to drain the fluid. At other times it resists these conventional approaches.
  
  If the infection persists and hearing loss is present, ventilation or pressure equalizing (PE) tympanostomy tubes may be inserted to drain the fluid. These tubes can remain in the ear for several months or even years. Tubes can restore hearing, prevent persistent fluid build-up, reduce the frequency of ear infections and prevent other serious ear complications.
  

Causes of Sensorineural Hearing Loss

There are two causes of sensorineural hearing loss - congenital and acquired.

Causes - Congenital Hearing Loss

• Inherited genetic syndromes
• Lack of development of the inner ear
• Intrauterine infections including rubella (German Measles)
• Prematurity
• Maternal diabetes
• Lack of oxygen during birth

Causes - Acquired Hearing Loss

• Inflammatory - caused by infections such as mumps, measles, meningitis or viruses
• Exposure to toxic drugs
• Physical trauma
• Noise-induced (from prolonged exposure to loud noises)
• Autoimmune related damage
• Tumors
• Meniere's disease

These are only some of the causes of sensorineural hearing loss. If you are concerned that you or a loved one might have suffered hearing loss of any kind, you should seek the advice of a medical practitioner immediately.