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Hearing Loss You Should Know About |
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Common Causes of Hearing Loss You Should Know About
Many things can cause hearing loss, most of
which we still cannot do much about - in spite of the advancements
in medical technology. However, there are advantages to KNOWING more
about the potential causes of hearing loss, especially as they can
help with early detection/diagnosis and possibly minimising the
nature of hearing loss eventually recorded.
As with most other bodily malfunctions or disorders, early
investigation or detection can be useful in tackling a hearing loss
problem. This is why hearing specialists often recommend periodic
hearing assessments especially for people who are exposed to
environments that predispose them to developing this problem.
This article describes some potential causes of hearing loss.
1. Noise Induced Hearing Loss: This can happen due to
exposure to a Noisy Work environment - for instance, not using
hearing protection in a packaging/bottling hall or manufacturing
plant with loud machines operating. Sound levels above 85 decibels
qualify to be called "Noise" and have potential to cause hearing
loss with prolonged exposure. A study found that workers in a plant
who were exposed to excessive noise (above 85 decibels) and did not
routinely use hearing protection tended to develop permanent hearing
loss. The same logic applies to prolonged exposure to non-workplace
situations (i.e. Noisy Play Environments) in which high noise levels
occur e.g. party venues with loud music etc. In the USA, an
initiative called "Dangerous Decibels" aimed at sensitizing young
people to the potential damage of loud music etc is one that
re-enforces the point being made.
2. Tobacco Induced Hearing Loss (TIHL): Not many people are
aware of this type of hearing loss. Proposals have been made that
cigarette manufacture be outlawed to facilitate the prevention of
TIHL. Research studies have shown that people who smoke are more
predisposed to developing hearing loss. And the longer they continue
smoking, the worse the condition becomes. A relatively recent study
reported in the Journal of the Association for Research into
Otolaryngology that "Smoking Reduces Blood Flow, Threatens Hearing"
(17 June 2008). Visit http://medicolegal.tripod.com/preventhearingloss.htm
3. Indiscriminate Self-medication - In many developing
countries, especially Nigeria, because people are wary of paying
high fees to see the physician for proper diagnosis, they tend to
self-medicate in the hope that they might save money, and by some
stroke of luck, get cured.
Over time, they get used to this habit, which leads to the syndrome
of a "pill for every ill" as it was described by Dr Peter Alberti in
an article titled "Action call to halt antibiotic-induced hearing
loss". In adults, hearing loss resulting from doing this is due to
some drugs which are "ototoxic" - in other words, they are damaging
to the ear. Drugs known to be ototoxic include antibiotics like
streptomycin and neomycin, aspirin etc.
According to experts in the field, the problem of hearing loss
caused by antibiotics misuse is getting more widespread.
Visit bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/313/7058/648 to learn
more.
4. Diseases/Infections: Do you have the habit of putting
objects into your ear when you feel itching or just to clean it out?
Well, you might want to stop doing that especially as you could pick
up ear infections, develop diseases or even damage the ear.
Having said that, other diseases do occur without one doing the
foregoing.
For instance in children, Otitis media can be quite common. It is
caused by fluid accumulating behind the ear drum, failing to drain
from the "Eustachian tube" (a small passage which connects the ear
to the nose). This provides opportunity for bacteria from the nasal
passages to enter this fluid and cause an ear infection. The
foregoing explains why Otitis Media often occurs following (or in
the course) of an attack of cold since during this period, the
child's nose is typically "congested".
The results is that the child hears speech as muffled or inaudible
when this infection sets in, because the fluid prevents proper
transmission of the speech sounds to the inner ear (making this a
conductive type of hearing loss). This type of hearing loss is
however often temporary but if it happens repeatedly, damage to the
eardrum and other inner ear parts can lead to permanent (sensorineural)
hearing loss.
5. Ear Canal Blockage: Blockage of the ear canal can lead to
hearing loss. The ear canal can be blocked by earwax, or what is
also known as cerumen. This kind of blockage is common and often
easily cured by having a doctor remove the wax (using special
equipment or even by simply flushing with water).
You can also do it yourself, if you have access to some of the
available over-the-counter wax control mixtures meant for use at
home. Reports however suggest that these do-it-yourself preparations
may lead to external ear infections.
Infections that are accompanied by swelling that blocks the canal,
resulting in hearing loss can also occur. The ear would typically
detect sounds clearly or without distortion, but at a lower volume.
Other blockages can be caused by damage/injury to the inner ear
(e.g. due to poking sharp objects when itching is felt); or even
tumors/growth in the ear.
ONE EXTRA CAUSE OF HEARING LOSS : Age
Now this one is interesting, and that's why I have added it to make
the number of causes I have discussed six (6) instead of the five
(5) promised in the title.
Many people simply assume aging logically leads to some hearing loss
overtime. But research studies across cultures/societies suggest
otherwise.
According to Dr. John A. McDougall in his book, "The McDougall
Program for a Healthy Heart", people in the third world, demonstrate
sounder hearing at 70 years than the average American does at 20
years. He explains that these third world residents grow old with
virtually all of their senses intact, while their counterparts in
developed societies often need to wear hearing aids and recommended
glasses with advancement in age.
The key appears to be the relatively high fat diet of the latter
group. Comparisons of people in Wisconsin, USA, with African
tribesmen called Maabans, revealed that none of the Africans was
diagnosed with any hearing loss like those suffered by many
residents of the dairy producing Wisconsin. Children in Finland
(where high fast diets are common) were found to have hearing loss
as early as the age of ten (10) years, while Yugoslavians (who eat
much lower cholesterol levels) show no such losses.
In summing up, Dr. McDougall points out that it is the same way that
fat blocks arteries supplying the brain and heart, that vessels
which serve the inner ear also get progressively blocked, making the
ear become less sensitive to sound.
What can you take away from the above? Well, the simple message is
that you NEED to eat healthy foods - so that you can stand a better
chance of preventing hearing loss right into your grey years!
Visit http://www.amazon.com/McDougall-Program-Healthy-Heart-Life-Saving/dp/0452272661
to learn more about "The McDougall Program for a Healthy Heart".
NEW IDEAS: Can Vitamins and Minerals Prevent Hearing Loss?
And here is one more interesting thought to take away. On Mar 29,
2007 in Science Daily, a report was published about a "candy bar"
that supposedly prevents hearing damage through its supply of
vitamins and minerals to the "chewer". It was discussed in relation
to the challenge faced by soldiers who on the one hand would love to
protect their ears from the damaging noise of battle by wearing ear
plugs, but are on the other hand unable to do so because using ear
plugs would make them less "sound" aware of their environment,
making them vulnerable to enemy "stealth" attacks.
Visit http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070328111138.htm
to learn more.
Want To Know More Or Get Started?
BSA Hearing and Speech Centre offers a reliable
Industrial Hearing Screening And Conservation Programme
that is designed to help companies like yours comprehensively address
the requirements specified by regulatory bodies.
Click here now
to request more information about how we can help you.
Date
Published: 13th December 2006 |
