A partial or complete loss of hearing in one or both ears. It is classified as conductive, sensory, or central.
Symptoms of Deafness
The following features are indicative of Deafness:
muffling of speech and other sounds
difficulty in understanding words
trouble hearing consonants
frequently asking others to speak more slowly, clearly and loudly
need to turn up the volume of the television or radio
withdrawal from conversations
avoidance of some social settings
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Common Causes of Deafness
The following are the most common causes of Deafness:
heredity
ear infections
meningitis
trauma
long-term exposure to loud noise
aging
Other Causes of Deafness
The following are the less common causes of Deafness:
maternal rubella
low birth weight
birth asphyxia
inappropriate use of particular drugs during pregnancy
severe jaundice in the neonatal period
otitis media
injury to the head or ear
excessive noise
recreational exposure to loud sounds
wax or foreign bodies blocking the ear canal
Risk Factors for Deafness
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Deafness:
aging
loud noise
heredity
occupational noises
recreational noises
Prevention of Deafness
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Deafness. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
protect ears in the workplace
have hearing tested
avoid recreational risks
Occurrence of Deafness
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Deafness cases seen each year worldwide:
Very common > 10 Million cases
Common Age Group
Deafness can occur at any age.
Common Gender
Deafness can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Deafness
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Deafness:
Otoscopy: Visual examination of the outer ear, middle ear, eardrum, and ear canal with an optical instrument
Weber, Bing, Rinne and Schwabach tests: For manual testing of auditory function
Laboratory testing: To detect inflammation or infections
Imaging tests: To find out the pathology of different cases of hearing loss
Doctor for Diagnosis of Deafness
Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Deafness:
General practitioner
Otolaryngologist
Audiologist
Audiometrist
Complications of Deafness if untreated
Yes, Deafness causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Deafness is left untreated:
can get worse
Procedures for Treatment of Deafness
The following procedures are used to treat Deafness:
Removing wax blockage: Removing earwax by loosening it with oil and then suctioning out the softened wax
Surgical procedures: Surgery helps in the ears draining
Hearing aids: Helps by making sounds stronger and easier to hear
Cochlear implants: Amplifies sound and directs it into ear canal
Self-care for Deafness
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Deafness:
Protect ears in the workplace: Wear specially designed earmuffs that resemble earphones helps in protecting ears from damaging noise
Have regular hearing tests: Consider regular hearing tests
Avoid recreational risks: Avoid activities such as riding a snowmobile, hunting or listening to rock concerts for long periods of time, can damage hearing
Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Deafness
The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Deafness:
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy: Helps reducing tinnitus symptoms
Patient Support for Treatment of Deafness
The following actions may help Deafness patients:
Position appropriately: Face the person with whom patient having a conversation
Turn off background noise: Television may interfere with conversation
Choose quiet settings: Choose a place to talk that's away from noisy areas
Consider using an assistive listening device: Hearing devices can help hear better
Time for Treatment of Deafness
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Deafness to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
Disease cannot be treated but only maintained or effects reduced