18 Dec Hearing loss causes: Common reasons for hearing impairment

What does hearing loss mean?

Hearing loss refers to the limitation or loss of the ability to perceive sounds and tones in their full range and volume. There are different degrees and types of hearing impairment. They range from mild hearing loss to deafness. Hearing loss can be a temporary or permanent problem and can affect both One ear as well as both. This condition can significantly impair communication and quality of life. Those affected often have difficulty following conversations or hearing warning signals and music.

The different degrees of hearing loss

There are different levels or degrees of hearing loss, which can be categorised according to the severity of the impairment. There are four main categories:

Mild hearing loss

People with mild hearing loss may have difficulty hearing soft sounds or conversations in noisy environments. They may miss some words or details in conversations if the background noise is high.

Moderate hearing loss

Those with moderate hearing loss find it more difficult to understand conversations - especially in noisy environments or in larger groups. They may need hearing aids.

Severe hearing loss

People with severe hearing loss have considerable difficulty understanding normal conversations, even when loud voices are used. They are often dependent on sign language, special hearing aids or cochlear implants.

Deafness

This is a complete loss of hearing. Those affected can no longer perceive sounds or noises. However, in some cases they can benefit from cochlear implants to restore some hearing ability.

Causes of hearing loss: Hearing loss that originates in the ear itself

There are various types of damage to the ear itself that can cause hearing loss. These include

Damage to the inner ear (cochlea)

The inner ear contains tiny Hair cellswhich convert sound waves into electrical signals that are then transmitted to the brain. Damage to these hair cells can lead to hearing loss. This can be caused, for example, by exposure to noise, infections or genetic factors. The effects of so-called ototoxic drugs are also possible. These drugs can unintentionally damage hearing. These ototoxic drugs include, for example, aminoglycoside antibiotics, chemotherapeutic agents or loop diuretics.

Damage to the middle ear (auris media, eardrum cavity)

The middle ear contains the three auditory ossicles hammer, anvil and stirrup. They transmit sound waves from the outer ear to the inner ear. Damage to or stiffening of these ossicles can hinder the transmission of sound and lead to hearing loss.

Damage to the external auditory canal

Blockages, foreign bodies or inflammation in the external auditory canal can block the transmission of sound and cause temporary hearing loss.

Perforation of the eardrum

A hole in the eardrum, which can be caused by infections, injuries or sudden pressure differences, for example, can also restrict hearing ability.

Dysfunction of the Eustachian tube

The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear with the nasopharynx and regulates the pressure in the middle ear. Permanent blockage or inflammation in this area, for example, are other possible causes of hearing loss.

The biological ageing process

With increasing age, the hair cells in the inner ear can degenerate, leading to a gradual deterioration in hearing ability. Advancing age is considered the most common cause of hearing loss.

Infections

Middle ear infections or viral infections can damage the inner ear and lead to temporary or permanent hearing loss.

Cholesteatoma

This is an abnormal accumulation of skin cells in the middle ear. This can damage the eardrum.

Anatomical anomalies

Congenital or acquired anatomical abnormalities in the ear or the auditory nervous system can also have a negative impact on hearing.

Otosclerosis

This is a disease in which the ossicles in the ear stiffen and prevent the transmission of sound waves.

Tumours

Benign or malignant tumours in the ear or in the auditory nervous system can disrupt the normal function of the auditory system.

Causes of hearing loss: Other factors not directly related to the ear

It is also possible that the hearing loss is not caused by the ear itself and its structures, but is related to other factors. These are, for example

Noise exposure

Exposure to loud noises over a long period of time can damage the hearing and lead to noise-induced hearing loss. This can be caused, for example, by working in noisy environments, loud music or the sound of firearms.

Genetic factors

In some cases, hearing loss can be linked to genetic predisposition. There may be family predispositions to hearing problems that are passed down from generation to generation.

Injuries or trauma

Head injuries or head trauma can damage the inner ear or the auditory nerves.

Hearing loss as a complication of other diseases

Certain diseases and health conditions such as Diabeteshigh blood pressure, heart disease and autoimmune diseases can affect hearing.

Cause of hearing loss: This is how we find out where your hearing loss comes from at our ENT clinic in Frankfurt

Determining the exact cause of hearing loss requires a thorough diagnostic examination at our ENT clinic in Frankfurt. The diagnostic procedure is usually as follows:

Medical history

The first step is to talk to you about your symptoms. We will ask you questions about your hearing loss, such as duration, severity and whether it occurs in one or both ears. We will ask you whether the hearing loss is gradual or sudden and whether there are any accompanying symptoms. Information on previous illnesses, medication, exposure to noise and family history of hearing loss are also relevant.

Physical examination

Now we examine the outside and inside of your ear to detect signs of infection, injury, structural abnormalities or other problems. We will also inspect your eardrum.

Hearing diagnostics

At our ENT clinic in Frankfurt, we have various test procedures available to check the functionality of your middle ear, inner ear and auditory pathway. We can also examine the vestibular organ in your inner ear. These diagnostic methods can be divided into subjective procedures that require your active participation (e.g. tonal audiometry) and objective procedures that do not require active participation (e.g. measurement of otoacoustic emissions). You can find out more about our examination methods here: Hearing and dizziness diagnostics Frankfurt

Depending on the suspected cause of the hearing loss, additional tests may be required, e.g. computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of your head and inner ear. Sometimes additional investigations by other medical specialities (e.g. cardiology or neurology) are also required. Once these examinations have been completed, we can better determine the cause and severity of your hearing loss.

Treat hearing loss in Frankfurt

Depending on the cause and severity of your hearing loss, there are various treatment options. These include drug therapy, surgical procedures, cochlear implants or hearing aids. We will be happy to work with you to determine which measure is right for you after a thorough diagnosis. Simply contact us - we are here for you!

ENT Frankfurt: Dr Thomas Fischer & Dr Albrecht Linke

Your specialists for ear, nose and throat medicine, who will provide you with professional and individualised advice, examinations and treatment in all matters relating to ENT medicine, functional plastic surgery and the aesthetic treatment of changes to the facial skin.

Our news articles are prepared for you to the best of our knowledge and belief and are intended for general education. They are in no way a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis and treatment and are not intended to encourage self-diagnosis or self-treatment. Please always contact your ENT specialist in Frankfurt directly if you have any health complaints!

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