Types Of Hearing Impairment

There are four distinct types of hearing impairment:

Conductive: Concerns abnormalities of the structures of the middle ear such as: Tympanic membrane perforationBones of the middle ear: anvil, hammer, and stapes are unable to vibrateScar tissue surrounding ear bones or ear drum

Sensorineural hearing impairment: Mostly involves the cochlea and the auditory nerve

Mixed: Is a mixture of conductive and sensorineural hearing impairments

Central hearing impairment: Inability to hear relating to the central nervous system, usually the brain.

Causes of hearing impairment:

• Ear Infection due to colds, flu, frequent swimming (swimmer's ear)


• Otosclerosis Abnormal growth of bone in the inner ear


• Acoustic neuroma (benign tumor)


• Puncture of the tympanic membrane (ear drum)


• Age (presbycusis) due to the destruction of the hair cells located in the cochlea that happen naturally as we age.


• Chronic diseases such as diabetes causing nerve damage to the auditory nerve, or cochlear nerve.


• Trauma due to fracture of the temporal bone


• Ototoxic drugs such as Lasix and Gentamicin


• Over exposure to loud noises that over time damage the hair cells in the cochlea

Hearing loss can occur in just one ear or both, can be mild to profound, as well as temporary or permanent.

Symptoms:

• Inability to understand speech


• Must have TV or radio very loud


• Must have conversation often repeated


• Unable to hear in crowds due to background noise


• Inappropriate answers to questions


• Ear pain

Other Factors:

• Symmetrical: Hearing loss is the same in each ear.


• Asymmetrical: hearing loss in each ear is different.


• Progressive: Hearing becomes worse as time passes.


• Sudden hearing loss. Hearing impairment that happens suddenly without warning.


• Fluctuating: Hearing impairment changes, bouncing back and forth between good and bad, due to infection or blockage.


• Degree of Hearing Loss: Is related to the severity of the impairment.

Diagnosis:

Diagnosis of hearing impairment is accomplished through a battery of hearing tests that determine the type of loss, location, and the amount of damage incurred. Tests include: MRI, CT scan, tuning fork (Rinne test), auditory hearing test, audiogram, and Hearing in Noise Test (HINT).

Treatment:

• Hearing aides


• Medication


• Surgery: Cochlear implants, tympanoplasty, replacement of stapes bone with a prosthesis


• Stem cell treatment: Still in the experimental stages of reproducing the hair cells in the cochlea, which are responsible for sending electrical impulses to the brain.

Assistive Devices:

• Telecommunications devices for the deaf (TDD).


• Flashing lights to signal a ringing telephone, a doorbell, or a fire alarm


• Telecommunications Relay Service


• Hearing dogs are a category of assistance dogs

Even though any type of discrimination against people with disabilities is against the law, it still happens to people who are hearing impaired. They very often are unable to find and keep a job due to their hearing disabilities.

Take care of your hearing and get tested regularly. Early diagnosis and treatment will help to avoid greater hearing loss down the road.

by Barb Hicks, RN/LMT