This article is going to give us very basic information about hearing loss or hearing impairment.
What is hearing loss??
Hearing loss means the ability of hearing is reduced or impaired. Hearing loss makes it difficult to hear speech and other environmental sounds.
One of the most difficult to detect and diagnose disabilities is hearing loss or hearing impairment. Hearing loss cannot be seen hence often it is undiagnosed.
Tests done for the diagnosis of hearing loss are
1. Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA)
2. Impedance Audiometry
3. ABR/BERA
4. Oto-acoustic Emissions (OAEs) [In newborns and infants]
The causes of hearing loss are several in babies and in adults. When the hearing loss is present since birth, it is known as ‘Congenital hearing loss’ and when the hearing loss develops after birth or in adults, it is known as ‘Post-lingual hearing loss’.
There are different types and degrees of hearing loss depending on the site of lesion.
A. Types of hearing loss
1. Conductive hearing loss- Site of lesion is outer ear and/or middle ear. This type of hearing loss is reversible. Can be treated medically (medicines or/and surgery).
2. Sensorineural hearing loss- Site of lesion is inner ear and/or hearing nerve. This type of hearing loss is irreversible. Hearing aids or Cochlear implant can help hear better.
3. Mixed hearing loss- Site of lesion is outer ear and/or middle ear and inner ear and/or hearing nerve. The part of it can be reversible.
B. Degrees of hearing loss
Depending on the amount of hearing loss, the degrees of hearing loss are Mild, Moderate, Moderately Severe, Severe and Profound hearing loss.
Hearing loss can have devastating effects on the child’s or person’s life which differs with the type and degree of hearing loss. Early diagnosis and intervention of the hearing loss can reduce these effects significantly.
As a parent/ caregiver or a partner, if you anytime suspect the possibility of hearing loss, instead of delaying or ignoring, meet an Audiologist or an ENT specialist just to rule out this possibility. This might change your child’s or your partner’s life..!!
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