What Causes Hearing Loss?

Following are the symptoms noticed in Hearing Loss

1. Difficulty following the conversation, especially on the telephone or at the restaurant etc.
2. Unable to hear some high-pitched sounds, such as birds singing
3. Numbness
4. Headache 
5. Weakness
6. Pain In the ear

What Causes Hearing Loss?

1. Sensorineural Hearing Loss: It occurs when the neurons leading to the brain or the inner ear tissues are damaged. Typically,it is irreversible. It can occur due to following reasons:
   1. Congenital abnormalities that change the ear's structure
   2. Age
   3. Injury to the skull or head 
   4. Meniere's disease is an inner-ear ailment that can impair balance and hearing.
2. Genetic Disorders: The genetic disorders that can cause hearing loss include Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Trisomy 13 (Patau Syndrome), and Treacher Collins syndrome.
3. Infections: The nerves of the ears can also be harmed by infections like those listed below, which can result in Sensorineural Hearing Loss: 
   1. Scarlet fever
   2. Mumps 
   3. Meningitis
4. Prenatal exposure to disease: If a foetus is exposed to certain illnesses in utero, such as Rubella, Influenza, Mumps etc, they might be born deaf with hearing issues.
5. Conductive Hearing Loss: When sounds cannot pass from the outer ear to the eardrum and the middle ear bones, Conductive Hearing Loss occurs. Hearing loss makes it difficult to hear soft or muffled sounds.
6. Trauma: It can be eardrum perforation, skull fractures, or variations in air pressure which may result in causing Hearing Loss.
7. Ototoxic Medications:  Even with hearing loss a person can still interact in conversations. 

A hearing loss is a diminished capacity to hear noises when compared to other people. When a person cannot understand conversation through ears, even when sound is increased, this condition is known as deafness.

How to Diagnose Hearing Loss?

Following tests are performed to Diagnose Hearing Loss:

1. Physical Examination: Examining the ear for any potential earwax or infection-related ear irritation along with structural causes which may result in Hearing Loss.
2. Screening Tests: To determine how well you can hear words spoken at different volumes and react to other sounds, your doctor may use the whisper test, which involves having you cover one ear at a time.
3. Audiometer tests:  This is done using earphones and listening to sounds and words addressed to each ear. To identify the quietest sound you can hear, each tone is repeated at different volumes.

Treatment is suggested depending on the kind and severity of Hearing Loss. They are as follows:

1. Medications: Antibiotics may help with ear infection-related Hearing Loss. After being exposed to loud noise, cochlear hair cells may expand; however, Corticosteroids are used to reduce inflammation.
2. Hearing rehabilitation: Adjusting to hearing loss and hearing aids is made easier with the help of therapy, also known as audiologic rehabilitation. A therapist can also teach you how to read lips and visual signals to enhance communication.
3. Hearing assist devices: Hearing aids are devices that amplify sound and are worn on or inside the ear. Doctors surgically insert cochlear implants into the inner ear to cure internal ear Hearing Loss.
4. Surgery: Chronic middle ear infections that cause Hearing Loss are treated with ear tubes by placing them in the ear drum. Providers also carry out procedures to remove tumours, correct birth anomalies, and use cochlear implant devices.