Tag: Inner Ear

Noise Causes Deafness Problems

Too much noise can make you deaf. If you think this is a joke, ask the estimated 10 million Americans who had had this kind of hearing problem.

The kind of deafness problem they have is what is known as noise induced haring loss. This occurs when too much noise hurts the hair cells in the inner ear and it can result in permanent damage. If this should happen, you will have to use haring aids since there is no way to correct the problem.

You will know when you begin to have this hearing problem when you have a hard time hearing what someone is saying. You will probably have to move closer to that person and even tell them to repeat what they just said.

Two factors that cause deafness problems are time and the intensity. Time is the duration at which you were exposed to it while intensity is measured in decibels.

Almost everyone works a 9 to 5 job or something similar to that which is equivalent to 8 hours. If you happen to work in an environment with noise levels of up to 85 decibels or even more, you could lose your hearing and it is only a matter of time.

You dont become deaf only from working in a loud environment. Studies have shown that this can also happen if you are exposed to firearms, loud explosions, certain hardware equipment, going regularly to a rock concert, using an MP3 player, watching television or listening to the radio, riding a motorcycle or snowmobile, farm machinery and selected childrens toys.

What is so astonishing about this deafness problem is that you dont feel any pain. It is only when you go somewhere that there is not that much noise that you will notice a ringing in your ears and might have a hard time hearing people. This does go away after a few hours or several days but if this happens regularly, this will become permanent.

Some of the early signs of noise induced hearing loss aside from having something repeated to you include the need to turn the volume higher and not being able to hear high pitched sounds. If you think you have this problem, it is best to have your ears checked by a trained professional.

Can this deafness problem be prevented? The answer is yes and this is done by using the proper safety equipment. Examples of these include canal caps, earplugs and earmuffs. You can buy this in the drugstore or from the hardware store.

You should make sure to keep this clean and in good condition at all times. If it is not as effective as it was before, be sure to replace it.

Now that you know that there is such a thing called noise induced hearing loss, you should take the necessary precautions so you dont lose your hearing. If you dont need to buy ear protection, dont stay too long in places that have loud sounds.

As an added precaution, have yourself checked annually by a certified audiologist especially if your job is a high risk for hearing loss. These jobs include construction, farming, firefighting, law enforcement and music. Your employer should provide free hearing protection but if they dont, you should get what is needed to avoid becoming deaf.

Hearing Aid For The Deaf

If you have deafness problems, the good news is that you can remedy it with hearing aids. There are different types around so you just have to find out which one is ideal for you.

But what is a hearing aid? It is simply an instrument that amplifies sound. Since hearing loss is different for each individual, it has to be configured manually to detect sound pitches at all levels.

Here, we will talk about 4 types of hearing aids. These are namely the completely in the canal instruments, the in the canal instruments, the in the ear instruments, behind the ear, open fit or over the ear hearing aid and bone anchored hearing aids.

The completely in the canal instrument or CIC is considered to be the best one around because it is so small that no one will notice that you are wearing it. Each one is custom made and this is designed for people who are suffering from mild to moderate hearing loss.

Next is the in the canal instrument or ITC. This is bigger since it has to occupy the entire ear canal. It is very flexible and designed to manage a wide range of hearing needs.

Then there is the in the ear instrument or ITE. This usually fits into the cradle position of the ear and just like the ITC, can handle a wide range of hearing needs. It is a little bigger than the ITC and is also custom made to shape the patients ear.

The behind the ear is placed behind the ear and connected using a plastic ear mold that fits inside the outer ear. This is only used by individuals who have mild to profound hearing loss.

You also have the Open-fit or Over-the-Ear hearing aids. This is a small plastic case that is placed behind the ear with a clear tube running into the ear canal with a mold inside to hold it in place. The new design helps to reduce the occlusion effect which was seen in other models.

Lastly is the bone anchored hearing aid. Similar to a cochlear implant, the patient has to undergo surgery so that the skull can be used as a pathway for sound to travel to the inner ear. If ever the patient has conductive losses, the BAHA bypasses the external auditory canal and middle ear, stimulating the functioning cochlea.

Should anyone who has hearing problems wear a hearing aid? Not for children below seven years of age because the ear is still growing so it will be too costly to make another one just to fit the patients ear. It is also not recommended for safety reasons because the hearing aid is made of hard plastic and this could be damaged when the child is playing and that could also cause injury to the childs ear canal.

There was a time that deaf people had to cup their hand behind the ear to hear what the other person was saying. The ear trumpet soon followed that until hearing aids were invented. The only problem with that was it was too big and this was usually worn on the chest or body. Fortunately, technology has made it smaller so no one will even notice that you are wearing it until they are up close.

Deafness Problems Can Be Prevented

Deafness problems occur when there is damage in the inner ear. How bad or severe it is caries and there are many factors. Fortunately, it can be prevented and here are a few tips you should know.

First, you should know that hearing loss may be caused by prolonged exposure to loud noise or even a loud explosion. As many as 10 million Americans have this problem.

You could get it from a concert, while partying at the disco or from a gun shot fired close to where you are. As a result, the hair cells in the inner ear of the cochlea may suffer permanent damage and the best way to prevent it from happening is to stay away from such places.

Our ears produce ear wax. This is why it should be cleaned regularly otherwise it will cover it entirely making it possible for you to hear. If you dont take immediate action, you will have to use medication or undergo surgery.

If you happen to work in a loud environment like a construction site or in the airport, you should wear an ear protector. Some examples include earplugs, earmuffs and canal caps that are sold in drugstores and hardware stores. The ideal one is something you are comfortable with using. Just make sure that this is in good condition at all times and replaced when needed.

The same goes when you decide to fire a few shots at the firing range because the weapon will produce a loud bang that has also been known to cause deafness problems.

Some diseases have been known to cause deafness problems and a very good example is meningitis. The good news is that this disease can be prevented by practicing proper hygiene, getting immunization shots and keeping your body healthy.

Certain drugs especially ototoxic are known to cause permanent hearing loss. You should consult with your doctor about this and ask him or her to recommend something else that is safer for you to use.

If you listen to music using a headset or earplugs, never set it at a high volume because this could also cause deafness problems. The same goes when you watch television or listen to the radio at home or in the car.

Deafness problems may be caused a lot of things. It could be genetic, due to an illness, age and noise. While some can be prevented, there is no way to prevent it if it is caused by age or genetics. The good news is that there are ways to treat it like a cochlear implant or with the help of hearing aids.

Early detection of hearing problems helps so it does not get any worse. If you have trouble understanding what people say in a crowded room, need to turn the volume higher, have people repeat what they say or be unable to hear pitched sounds, then you could already have a problem. Go and have yourself checked out by a professional so he or she can let you undergo a hearing test.

Now that you know what causes deafness problems, dont keep it to yourself and spread the word around. A friend or family member that does not take steps to prevent it will most likely suffer from it sooner than you think.