Hearing loss can affect a person in three main ways:
- Fewer educational and job opportunities due to impaired communication.
- Social withdrawal due to reduced access to services and difficulties communicating with others.
- Emotional problems caused by a drop in self-esteem and confidence.
Types
There are three different types of hearing loss:
This means that the vibrations are not passing through from the outer ear to the inner ear, specifically the cochlea. This type can occur for many reasons, including:
Ear infections can leave scar tissue, which might reduce eardrum function. The ossicles may become impaired as a result of infection, trauma, or fusing together in a condition known as ankylosis.
- An Excessive build-up of earwax
- Glue ear
- An Ear infection with inflammation and fluid buildup
- A Perforated eardrum
- Malfunction of the ossicles
- A Defective eardrum
Ear infections can leave scar tissue, which might reduce eardrum function. The ossicles may become impaired as a result of infection, trauma, or fusing together in a condition known as ankylosis.
Hearing loss is caused by dysfunction of the inner ear, the cochlea, auditory nerve, or brain damage.
This kind of hearing loss is normally due to damaged hair cells in the cochlea. As humans grow older, hair cells lose some of their function, and hearing deteriorates.
Long-term exposure to loud noises, especially high-frequency sounds, is another common reason for hair cell damage. Damaged hair cells cannot be replaced. Currently, research is looking into using stem cells to grow new hair cells.
Sensorineural total deafness may occur as a result of congenital deformities, inner ear infections, or head trauma.
This kind of hearing loss is normally due to damaged hair cells in the cochlea. As humans grow older, hair cells lose some of their function, and hearing deteriorates.
Long-term exposure to loud noises, especially high-frequency sounds, is another common reason for hair cell damage. Damaged hair cells cannot be replaced. Currently, research is looking into using stem cells to grow new hair cells.
Sensorineural total deafness may occur as a result of congenital deformities, inner ear infections, or head trauma.
This is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. Long-term ear infections can damage both the eardrum and the ossicles. Sometimes, surgical intervention may restore hearing, but it is not always effective.