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Hearing loss

Decreased hearing; Deafness; Loss of hearing; Conductive hearing loss; Sensorineural hearing loss; Presbycusis

 

Hearing loss is being partly or totally unable to hear sound in one or both ears.

Considerations

 

Symptoms of hearing loss may include:

  • Certain sounds seeming too loud
  • Difficulty following conversations when two or more people are talking
  • Difficulty hearing in noisy areas
  • Trouble telling high-pitched sounds (such as "s" or "th") from one another
  • Less trouble hearing men's voices than women's voices
  • Hearing voices as mumbled or slurred

Other symptoms include:

  • Feeling of being off-balance or dizzy (more common with Ménière disease and acoustic neuroma )
  • Feeling of pressure in the ear (in the fluid behind the eardrum)
  • Ringing or buzzing sound in the ears ( tinnitus )

 

Causes

 

Conductive hearing loss (CHL) occurs because of a mechanical problem in the outer or middle ear. This may be because:

  • The 3 tiny bones of the ear (ossicles) are not conducting sound properly.
  • The eardrum is not vibrating in response to sound.

Causes of conductive hearing loss can often be treated. They include:

  • Buildup of wax in the ear canal
  • Damage to the very small bones (ossicles) that are right behind the eardrum
  • Fluid remaining in the ear after an ear infection
  • Foreign object that is stuck in the ear canal
  • Hole in the eardrum
  • Scar on the eardrum from repeated infections

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) occurs when the tiny hair cells (nerve endings) that detect sound in the ear are injured, diseased, do not work correctly, or have died. This type of hearing loss often cannot be reversed.

Sensorineural hearing loss is commonly caused by:

  • Acoustic neuroma
  • Age-related hearing loss
  • Childhood infections, such as meningitis , mumps , scarlet fever , and measles
  • Ménière' disease
  • Regular exposure to loud noises (such as from work or recreation)
  • Use of certain medicines

Hearing loss may be present at birth (congenital) and can be due to:

  • Birth defects that cause changes in the ear structures
  • Genetic conditions (more than 400 are known)
  • Infections the mother passes to her baby in the womb (such as toxoplasmosis , rubella , or herpes

The ear can also be injured by:

  • Pressure differences between the inside and outside of the eardrum , often from scuba diving
  • Skull fractures (can damage the structures or nerves of the ear)
  • Trauma from explosions, fireworks, gunfire, rock concerts, and earphones

 

Home Care

 

You can often flush wax buildup out of the ear (gently) with ear syringes (available in drug stores) and warm water. Wax softeners (like Cerumenex) may be needed if the wax is hard and stuck in the ear.

Take care when removing foreign objects from the ear. Unless it is easy to get to, have your health care provider remove the object. Don't use sharp instruments to remove foreign objects.

See your provider for any other hearing loss.

 

When to Contact a Medical Professional

 

Call your provider if:

  • Hearing problems interfere with your lifestyle.
  • Hearing problems do not go away or become worse.
  • The hearing is worse in one ear than the other.
  • You have sudden, severe hearing loss or ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
  • You have other symptoms, such as ear pain , along with hearing problems.
  • You have new headaches, weakness, or numbness anywhere on your body.

 

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

 

The provider will take your medical history and do a physical exam.

Tests that may be done include:

  • Audiometry (a hearing test used to check the type and amount of hearing loss)
  • CT or MRI scan of the head (if a tumor or fracture is suspected)
  • Tympanometry

The following surgeries may help some types of hearing loss:

  • Eardrum repair
  • Placing tubes in the eardrums to remove fluid
  • Repair of the small bones in the middle ear (ossiculoplasty)

The following may help with long-term hearing loss:

  • Devices for hearing loss
  • Hearing aids
  • Learning techniques to help you communicate
  • Sign language (for those with severe hearing loss)

Cochlear implants are only used in people who have lost too much hearing to benefit from a hearing aid.

 

 

Open References

References

Arts HA. Sensorineural hearing loss in adults. In: Flint PW, Haughey BH, Lund V, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery . 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 150.

Baloh RW, Jen JC. Hearing and equilibrium. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine . 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 428.

Bauer CA, Jenkins HA. Otologic symptoms and syndromes. In: Flint PW, Haughey BH, Lund V, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery . 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 156.

El Dib RP, Matthew JL, Martins RHG. Interventions to promote the wearing of hearing protection. Cochrane Database Syst Rev . 2012;4:CD005234. PMID: 22513929. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22513929 .

Lonsbury-Martin BL, Martin GK. Noise-induced hearing loss. In: Flint PW, Haughey BH, Lund V, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery . 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 152.

Shibata SB, Shearer AE, Smith RJH. Genetic sensorineural hearing loss. In: Flint PW, Haughey BH, Lund V, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery . 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 148.

 
  • Ear anatomy

    Ear anatomy - illustration

    The ear consists of external, middle, and inner structures. The eardrum and the 3 tiny bones conduct sound from the eardrum to the cochlea.

    Ear anatomy

    illustration

    • Ear anatomy

      Ear anatomy - illustration

      The ear consists of external, middle, and inner structures. The eardrum and the 3 tiny bones conduct sound from the eardrum to the cochlea.

      Ear anatomy

      illustration

    A Closer Look

     

      Talking to your MD

       

        Self Care

         

        Tests for Hearing loss

         
         

        Review Date: 5/25/2016

        Reviewed By: Sumana Jothi, MD, specialist in laryngology, Assistant Clinical Professor, UCSF Otolaryngology, NCHCS VA, SFVA, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

        The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

         
         
         

         

         

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