Hearing loss or deafness is one condition we are all afraid to experience. When we become deaf, we can no longer detect certain sound frequencies. There are two categories of hearing impairments which fall through according to type, severity and the age of onset. The condition may also affect one or both ears.
Conductive & Sensorineural Hearing Impairments
The two categories of hearing impairments are conductive and sensorineural. Conductive results from a dysfunction in mechanisms which normally conduct sound waves through the eardrum, outer ear or the bones of the middle ear.
Sensorineural results from dysfunctions in the inner ear. This is especially if it is the cochlea that is dysfunctional because this is where sound vibrations get converted into neural signals. This dysfunction can be present from birth because of developmental or genetic abnormalities or this can arise from a disease or trauma. If sensorineural hearing loss is associated with abnormalities in the auditory system of the brain, this is referred to as "Central Hearing Impairment".
Preventing Hearing Loss
There are cases where people lose their hearing due to an illness or an injury. As this cannot be prevented, there are also certain instances when a change in the genetic components of a person exists. This too can lead to hearing loss. If a child is born deaf, of course, this is impossible to control.
With advancements in technology, there are now solutions to these problems. It is now possible to treat hearing problems surgically or with the use of instruments that can help you hear.
In day-to-day living, there are also situations which can lead to hearing loss. One example is prolonged exposure to loud noise. By knowing these factors, you can control them and thus, prevent hearing loss.
. Avoid prolonged exposure to ultrasonic sounds. If it cannot be avoided, use ear plugs as they can help prevent damage to your internal ears and diaphragm.
. Your ear plugs should completely cover your ears.
. Avoid working in places that exposes you to loud noises.
. Mobile phones are also known to damage hearing senses significantly. They have powerful and harmful radiations that can cause severe effects on a person's ears. Studies also show that they can damage the senses in your brain. It is mentioned that it can be harmful to talk for more than 15 minutes on your mobile phones continuously.
. Ear phones can increase extent of damage.
. Using headsets and earphones contribute to damaging your hearing ability. Try to keep the volume low. There are also sound-isolation and noise-cancelling headphones you can use. These are known to cause less damage to the ears.
. Avoid watching TV at a very high volume.
. Smoking can also impact one's hearing. This is since smoke travels towards the ears through the Eustachian tubes which connect the mouth and the ears. Smoking can damage your inner ears and lead to hearing loss so quit smoking.
. Get your ears checked regularly.
. Keep your ears clean to avoid any risk of infection which can also lead to hearing loss. Clean it at least once a week. The doctor can also clean it once a month.
Author Resource:
Knowing what causes hearing loss can help you learn ways to prevent it. As hearing loss can lead to other defects like loss of speech, taking proper care of our ears instead of using an earache remedy is still the best way to prevent hearing loss.
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