Your hearing loss can be attributed to many factors, or even a combination of factors. You may experience some level of hearing loss if you have had damage to the inner ear, a buildup of wax in your ear, serious ear infections, abnormal bone growth in your ear, tumors in or outside of your ear, or a ruptured eardrum. The causes and treatments for hearing loss vary.
Hearing Loss Caused by Inner Ear Damage
Advanced age is one major cause for hearing loss because over time the nerve cells in the cochlea experience much wear and tear. This inner ear damage leads to difficulty hearing words against background noise and high-pitched sounds can be distorted.
Overexposure to loud noises can also cause this same type of inner ear damage known as sensor neural hearing loss. This type of hearing loss is permanent. However, if you have this type of hearing loss you may be able to benefit from the use of a hearing aid. Your audiologist can help you to choose the right type of hearing aid to suit your needs.
Ear Wax Blockages Can Lead to Loss of Hearing
A buildup of wax in your ear can cause hearing loss. Overtime you may build up enough wax in your ear canal that a blockage, serious enough to cause hearing loss, can be formed. The treatment for hearing loss caused by wax buildup involves your doctor loosening the wax with oil then either suctioning, flushing, or scooping the wax out. Like others who have had this procedure done, you may notice a complete restoration in your hearing immediately.
Infections, Abnormal Growths, and Tumors of the Ear
A serious ear infection can cause damage to the inner ear that could lead to hearing loss. In some cases, the damage caused could be irreversible. Abnormal bone growths and tumors of the inner, middle, or outer ear can block sound from entering the ear canal and cause a level of hearing loss. Once the growths are removed, your hearing is usually restored.
A Ruptured Ear Drum Can Cause Temporary Hearing Loss
Unless the ruptured eardrum is serious, the loss of hearing caused by it should be remedied once the damage has healed. Generally, a ruptured eardrum will heal on its own without treatment in a few weeks. If you have had an exceptionally severe rupture to your eardrum, you may require medical interventions to promote healing or even surgical repair of the perforated eardrum.
How to avoid hearing loss and deafness
You can avoid some of these causes of hearing loss in the future by being mindful of just how sensitive your ear and your hearing can be. If possible, you should avoid exposing your ears to chronic loud noises. If you must have extended exposure to loud noises, be sure to protect your ears. Most areas have doctors who specialize in removing built up earwax.
Speak to your doctor about having routine earwax removal conducted so that you can avoid a blockage that causes hearing loss. At the first sign of an ear infection, you should seek medical help. If you are able to begin treatment of the infection as soon as possible, you will be able to reduce the risk of damage to your vulnerable inner ear.
You can reduce the chances of having a perforated eardrum by not putting any objects into your ear. The rule of thumb is that nothing smaller than your elbow should be put in your ear. You cannot do much to avoid the natural wear and tear on your hearing due to advanced age. However, by keeping your ears as safe as possible, you can likely maintain your level of hearing and avoid hearing loss.
