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Hearing impairment may develop gradually and remain unnoticed for a long time. At first, a person begins to ask others to repeat themselves more often, increase the volume of the television, or experience difficulties while communicating in a noisy environment.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.5 billion people worldwide have one form of hearing impairment or another, and its prevalence continues to increase. This problem affects not only older people but also younger individuals. The cause may be infectious diseases, prolonged exposure to loud noise, injuries, age-related changes, and other factors.
Timely consultation with a doctor makes it possible to determine the cause of hearing impairment and select the most effective treatment or correction method. If difficulties with sound perception have appeared, the examination should not be postponed — it is possible to schedule a consultation with a specialist at the Oxford Medical medical center by phone or through the online appointment form.
Hearing loss, or impaired hearing, is a persistent or progressive hearing impairment in which a person begins to perceive sounds of different loudness and frequency worse. It may have different degrees of severity — from minor difficulties during communication to a significant limitation of the ability to hear surrounding sounds. Unlike complete deafness, a person continues to perceive sounds, but their clarity, loudness, or intelligibility may be significantly reduced.
Depending on which part of the auditory analyzer the disorder occurs in, three main types of hearing loss are distinguished.
Occurs when the conduction of sound waves through the outer or middle ear is impaired. Such a condition may be associated with inflammatory processes, anatomical features, or mechanical obstacles to the passage of sound. In many cases, after the cause is eliminated, hearing may improve significantly or be fully restored.
Sensorineural, or neurosensory hearing loss is associated with damage to the inner ear, auditory nerve, or structures of the brain that are responsible for the perception of sounds. This form is characterized not only by a decrease in the loudness of sounds, but also by deterioration in speech intelligibility.
The mixed form combines signs of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. In such cases, the mechanisms of sound conduction and its perception are affected simultaneously. Treatment tactics are determined individually after a comprehensive examination.
The degree is determined based on the results of audiometry — a study that makes it possible to assess how reduced the ability to perceive sounds of different loudness is. The severity of symptoms, the impact of the disease on everyday life, and the choice of treatment tactics depend on the degree of impairment.
| Degree | Hearing threshold | Characteristics |
| 1st degree | 26–40 dB | Minor hearing loss: a person usually hears conversational speech, but may not perceive quiet sounds, whispering, or individual words in the presence of background noise. |
| 2nd degree | 41–55 dB | Moderate impairment, which makes communication difficult directly during conversation, especially in crowded places or at a distance. |
| 3rd degree | 56–70 dB | Pronounced hearing loss: the perception of speech deteriorates significantly, which may cause difficulties in everyday life, learning, and professional activity. |
| 4th degree | 71–90 dB | Severe impairment, in which a person hears only very loud sounds, and understanding speech without special correction devices is significantly limited. |
The causes of hearing impairment can be different — from temporary conditions that are easily eliminated to diseases that require long-term treatment or constant medical supervision.
According to Mayo Clinic, common causes include:
age-related changes in the hearing apparatus;
prolonged exposure to loud noise at work or in everyday life;
infectious and inflammatory ear diseases;
previous head and ear injuries;
some medications with ototoxic effects;
circulatory disorders;
hereditary factors;
neoplasms of the auditory nerve and other structures.
Among the causes due to which weakening of hearing occurs, inflammatory processes occupy a special place. For example, otitis can lead to both temporary and persistent deterioration of hearing, depending on the form of the disease and the timeliness of treatment.
Sometimes even cerumen impactions, which block the ear canal and create a mechanical obstacle to the passage of sound waves, become the cause of deterioration in the perception of sounds.
Doctors at Oxford Medical note: hearing impairment can be caused both by diseases directly of the ear and by pathologies of other organs and systems. That is why consultation with a specialist and a comprehensive examination are necessary to establish an accurate diagnosis.
Manifestations may differ depending on the cause of the disease
and the degree of its severity.
The most common signs of decreased hearing acuity are:
the need to often ask interlocutors to repeat themselves;
difficulties with perceiving speech in a noisy environment;
noise, ringing, or whistling in the ears that often recurs;
the need to increase the volume of the television, phone, or headphones.
In some cases, not only deterioration of hearing is observed, but also a feeling of ear congestion, balance disturbance, or dizziness. Such symptoms require a mandatory consultation with a specialist.
Doctors at Oxford Medical recommend not ignoring even minor hearing problems, since early detection of the disease makes it possible to start treatment in a timely manner and prevent further progression of disorders.
The examination usually begins with an ENT specialist consultation, during which the doctor analyzes complaints, collects medical history, and performs an examination of the ear. After this, additional studies may be prescribed if necessary.
To confirm the diagnosis of hearing loss and determine its degree, the patient may be prescribed:
otoscopy — examination of the external auditory canal and the eardrum;
audiometry — a study that makes it possible to determine the degree and nature of hearing impairment;
tympanometry — assessment of the mobility of the eardrum and the function of the middle ear;
tuning fork tests — simple tests that help preliminarily determine the type of hearing loss.
If necessary, the doctor may recommend additional examination methods. For example, MRI of the head is prescribed when damage to the auditory nerve, neoplasms, or other pathologies of the central nervous system that may affect the perception and understanding of sounds are suspected.
Treatment tactics depend on the cause, type, and degree of the disorder. In some cases, it is enough to eliminate the factor that interferes with normal perception of sounds, while in others comprehensive treatment or the use of special hearing aids may be required.
Treatment of hearing impairment may include:
medication therapy for inflammatory and some other diseases;
removal of cerumen impactions;
surgical treatment of certain ear pathologies;
use of hearing aids;
cochlear implantation if appropriate indications are present.
Doctors at Oxford Medical emphasize that the effectiveness of therapy largely depends on the timeliness of seeking medical care. The earlier the cause of the disorder is established, the more opportunities there are to preserve or improve hearing.
In many cases, modern methods of treating hearing loss make it possible to significantly improve the patient’s quality of life, restore comfortable communication, and reduce the risk of further progression of the disease.
Not all cases can be prevented, but following simple recommendations helps reduce the risk of their development.
Prevention of hearing impairment includes:
limiting prolonged exposure to loud noise;
using hearing protection equipment while working in noisy conditions;
timely treatment of infectious and inflammatory ear diseases;
refusal of self-treatment and uncontrolled use of medications;
regular preventive examinations by an otolaryngologist if risk factors are present.
Special attention should be paid to people who work in production, often use headphones at high volume, or have a hereditary predisposition to ear diseases.
The cost of treatment depends on the cause and degree of hearing impairment, the necessary scope of diagnostics, as well as the chosen treatment tactics. In some cases, a doctor’s consultation and conservative therapy are sufficient, while in others additional examinations or specialized medical services may be needed.
To establish an accurate diagnosis and select an optimal treatment plan, it is recommended to consult an otolaryngologist. After the examination, the doctor will explain possible therapy options and provide guidance regarding its cost. You can review the prices for doctors’ consultations in advance here. To schedule a doctor’s appointment, call the contact center, leave a request for a callback, or use the online appointment form.
The information is for informational purposes and does not replace a doctor’s consultation.
Sources:
An otolaryngologist (ENT doctor) is involved in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss. If necessary, consultations with a neurologist or another specialist may also be recommended, depending on the cause of the hearing impairment.
With hearing loss, hearing is partially reduced, so a person continues to perceive sounds and speech. Deafness is characterized by a complete or almost complete loss of the ability to hear surrounding sounds.
In many cases, the progression of hearing loss can be slowed down or stopped. The effectiveness of treatment depends on the cause of the disorder, the timeliness of consulting a doctor, and adherence to recommendations.
The possibility of restoring hearing depends on the type and cause of the disorder. In some cases, hearing can be restored completely, in others — improved with the help of treatment or the use of a hearing aid.
The need for a hearing aid is determined individually after an examination. Most often, hearing aid fitting is recommended for hearing loss of the 2nd–4th degree, if the hearing impairment significantly affects communication and quality of life.
Sleeping with headphones by itself usually does not cause hearing loss. However, prolonged listening to sounds at high volume can damage the hearing apparatus and increase the risk of hearing disorders.
Accurate diagnostics. The otolaryngology department is equipped with equipment from leading manufacturers of medical technology, which allows accurate assessment of the condition of ENT organs.
Experienced doctors. Consultations are conducted by specialists with many years of experience who work according to modern clinical recommendations.
Comfortable appointment. At Oxford Medical, an ENT specialist provides consultations in Kyiv and Irpin, which makes it possible to choose a convenient location and the optimal time for a visit.
Modern inpatient department. Surgical treatment is carried out in the modern surgical inpatient department of the private clinic Oxford Medical.
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