Can’t hear an adult’s ear

There are many different causes of hearing loss in one or both ears. It may be hereditary or simply be part of the aging process. Hearing loss (as hearing loss is called) can be caused by an explosion, exposure to loud noise, infection, exposure to toxins, or trauma. The good news is that there are certain solutions that can successfully correct most types of hearing loss. Let’s talk about the most common risks and what you can do to prevent hearing loss.

What is hearing loss

There are several options for hearing loss in one or both ears:

Conductive hearing loss

It occurs due to problems with the ear canal, eardrum or middle ear and its small bones (hammer, anvil, and stirrup). Causes of conductive hearing loss can be a malformation of the outer ear, auditory canal, or middle ear structures, fluid in the middle ear due to a cold, otitis media, a middle ear infection in which fluid buildup can interfere with the movement of the eardrum and ossicles. Also, problems are possible due to allergies, poor function of the Eustachian tube, perforation of the eardrum, benign tumors, cerumen plugs, infection in the ear (external auditory) canal.

A foreign object in the ear, otosclerosis (a hereditary disease in which a bone growth forms around a small bone in the middle ear, which prevents it from vibrating with sound stimulation) can form hearing loss.

There are several types of treatment for conductive hearing loss. Surgery can correct conductive hearing loss that occurs due to congenital absence of the ear canal or defect at birth, congenital absence, malformations or dysfunction of the middle ear structures (eg, due to head trauma), and otosclerosis.

A bone-conduction hearing aid or a surgically implanted, osseointegrated device, conventional hearing aid may be used, depending on the condition of the auditory nerve.

For the treatment of ear infections, antibiotics (Amkosiklav, Cefalexin, Suprax, Azithromycin) or antifungal drugs (Candibiotic, Polydex, Otolorin) are used. Tumors usually require surgery.

sensorineural hearing loss 

It occurs due to problems with the inner ear, also known as nerve-related hearing loss. Causes of sensorineural hearing loss include exposure to loud noise, aging (presbycusis), head trauma, a virus or illness, or an autoimmune disease of the inner ear. Heredity, malformations of the inner ear, Meniere’s disease, otosclerosis, tumors can affect.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss, presumably of viral origin, is a reason for immediate therapy, it is treated with corticosteroids. These same drugs can also be used to reduce swelling and inflammation of the cochlear hair cells after exposure to loud noise.

Sensorineural hearing loss can occur as a result of a head injury or sudden changes in air pressure (for example, when an airplane descends) – this can cause injury and fluid can enter the inner ear, which can be toxic to the cochlea. Sometimes emergency surgery helps, but often the hearing loss is irreversible.

Bilateral progressive hearing loss over several months, also diagnosed as an autoimmune disease of the inner ear, is treated medically with long-term corticosteroids and sometimes drug therapy. Autoimmune inner ear disease is when the body’s immune system directs its aggression against the structures of the inner ear, causing damage to that part of the body.

Reversible sensorineural hearing loss may be due to an unknown cause or associated with Meniere’s disease. Symptoms of Meniere’s disease are hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and dizziness. Meniere’s disease can be treated with medication, a low-sodium diet, diuretics, and corticosteroids. If vertigo is not medically controlled, various surgical procedures are used to treat it. Sensorineural hearing loss due to diseases of the central nervous system may be treatable after correction of the specific disease affecting the nervous system. For example, hearing loss caused by multiple sclerosis can be corrected by treating the multiple sclerosis itself.

Irreversible sensorineural hearing loss, the most common form of hearing loss that can be managed with hearing aids. When hearing aids are not enough, this type of hearing loss can be treated surgically with cochlear implants.

Mixed hearing loss

Mixed hearing loss is caused by a combination of conductive damage to the outer or middle ear and sensorineural damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or auditory nerve.

Why does not hear the ear of an adult

The most common dangers to your hearing that can lead to sudden or gradual hearing loss are discussed in more detail.

Excessive noise at work. Noise level should not exceed 85 dB. If it is higher, try reducing the noise, or wear hearing protection. Even noise reduction measures, such as installing carpeting or wall coverings, can reduce indoor noise pollution.

Excessive volume on home electronics. Keep the volume of your TV, radio, or stereo as low as possible. Special care is required when wearing headphones, as is the case with mobile players. Sound systems in cars also often play too loud because they compete with engine and traffic noise, which can dangerously increase the volume of noise you expose your ears to.

Concerts and discos. In some countries, ear plugs are mandatory at concerts or in clubs. While it may make sense to lower the volume to a reasonable level, this is not always possible in such places. Therefore, always use the supplied earplugs or use your own ear protection. Do not stay in a very noisy environment for too long, and never stand directly next to a loudspeaker. Give your ears a break from time to time.

Restaurants and cafes. Noise levels in restaurants and cafes can often approach dangerous levels. In particular, infants and children can be exposed to destructive noise without the knowledge of their parents. Stay away from overly noisy restaurants and cafes, or pay attention to the position of the loudspeakers and make sure your children are at a safe distance from them.

Loud tools and equipment. Use hearing protection if you have to use loud tools and machinery. This also applies to the use of a lawn mower or drill.

Foreign bodies in the ear. Never use cotton swabs – the harm they cause far outweighs the benefits. Q-tips often do not remove earwax, but push it deep into the ear canal right in front of the eardrum. This increases the risk of an ear infection. Another side effect of cotton swabs can be an increase in earwax production. The same goes for handkerchiefs, corners of towels, fingers, etc. Rinse your ears thoroughly with water when you shower.

Illness and infection. Ear infections are usually bacterial in origin. In these cases, great care should be taken and treatment should not be delayed. Even washing with unclean water can cause an ear infection and this can lead to hearing loss. Some illnesses, such as measles, whooping cough, and mumps, can cause deafness.

What to do at home if you can’t hear an adult’s ear

Acute hearing loss is characterized by a feeling of “stuffiness” or deafness in the ear, as well as sensitivity to noise. These symptoms usually occur within 24 hours of hearing loss.

Tinnitus (ringing in the ear) may signal or accompany hearing loss. There is usually no pain in the ears with hearing loss. Possible symptoms:

• decreased hearing or complete deafness;
• the occurrence of acute hearing loss, usually in only one ear;
• sudden onset of acute hearing loss within 24 hours;
• symptoms of acute hearing loss do not cause ear pain;
• tinnitus or other sounds in the ears;
• feeling of pressure in the ear;
• dizziness in severe cases.

With all these complaints, it is important to consult a doctor.

To diagnose acute hearing loss, the ENT doctor will determine what causes and symptoms the patient has. Sudden hearing loss may have simple causes, but under certain circumstances it can be a serious condition. Perhaps a harmless plug of earwax has blocked the ear canal, perhaps there is an infection of the inner ear. Therefore, various examinations are needed: an examination of the eardrum and a hearing test provide information about actual hearing loss or other medical conditions.

Certain frequency tests measure the degree of hearing loss as well as sound vibrations between the brain stem and cortex to find out if the cochlea is damaged. If there is no evidence leading to a primary disorder, the doctor will diagnose acute hearing loss.

What to do with temporary hearing loss

Sometimes it helps to rest and reduce the load on the body. This speeds up some of the self-healing processes, and according to experts, the rate of spontaneous healing is high in the first weeks after acute hearing loss. There is no cure for acute hearing loss because the cause is unknown.

Since the first symptoms usually appear within 24 hours, it is recommended to see a doctor quickly when the first symptoms appear. The sooner acute hearing loss is treated, the better the prognosis for recovery. Based on currently available knowledge, the following treatment options have been developed:

• rest and relaxation;
• medicines to improve blood circulation in the area of ​​hair cells in the ear;
• oxygen chamber – additional oxygen supplies the hair cells and should promote healing.

If hearing does not return after acute hearing loss, hearing aids may help. A noise generator in a hearing aid can sometimes help reduce the symptoms of tinnitus if acute hearing loss occurs in combination with tinnitus.

Popular questions and answers

Questions regarding the treatment of hearing loss we discussed with general practitioner, endoscopist, head of the organizational and methodological office Lidia Golubenko.