Conductive Hearing Loss Causes, Symptoms And Treatments

What is Conductive Hearing Loss?

Conductive hearing loss is caused by the inability of sound waves from the outer ear to connect with the tiny bones of the middle ear.

As sound is carried from the outside of the ear to the ear canal, leading to the middle ear, vibrations that need to take place do not occur, resulting in hearing loss. The hearing deficit can be minor or it can be significant, depending the cause and extent of damage.

People face a high risk of losing their hearing when care is not taken to use protective wear, such as using foam ear protectors when in the presence of loud noises.

Causes of Conductive hearing loss include:

• Mechanical obstruction


• Fluid or ear wax build up


• Infection


• Otosclerosis


• Loud sounds

Symptoms of Conductive Hearing Loss:

• Tinnitus


• Feeling of fullness in the ear


• Sounds are faint or non existent


• Needing everything to be repeated


• Withdrawal from social activities


• Depression and embarrassment

Diagnosis:

Whispered speech test: A combination of numbers and letters are whispered behind you.

Tuning fork test: Testing is done in different frequencies to determine the type of hearing loss.

Pure tone audiometry: An audiometer produces sounds of different volumes and frequencies.

Otoacoustic emissions: Measures your cochlear function and records the signals produced by the hair cells.

Auditory brain stem response: This measures the activity of the cochlea, cochlear nerve, and brain in response to sound.

You can help yourself to hear and understand people easier by:

- Facing the person you are talking to. Sometimes recognizing facial expressions and lip reading will help in understanding what is being said.

- Sitting in close proximity to the person you are conversing with.- Making sure the ear you hear the best out of is toward the person you are talking to.

Treatments:

With conductive hearing loss treatment can be done in a myriad of ways to include:

• Removal of the offending obstruction


• Surgery


• Hearing Aids


• Draining of fluids that have built up


• Softening and removal of excessive ear wax


• Antibiotics such as oral medication or ear drops

In cases of profound deafness, a cochlear implant could prove to be very helpful. Sound becomes an electrical signal that travels to the implant via the external piece that is worn behind the ear. Cochlear implants work well in most people, as well as a benefit to children who are hearing impaired.

The first thing you want to do when faced with the possibility of conductive hearing loss is to see your physician for diagnostic testing. With proper diagnosis and treatment, most conductive hearing loss can be eliminated. It is important to remember that your hearing is precious and all methods of protecting your hearing should be implemented with out delay. If it is preventable make it your responsibility to protect it with early screenings to detect hearing loss, and wearing protective devices to reduce the loud sounds that may be damaging to the structures of the auditory system.

by Barb Hicks, RN/LMT