Hearing loss is the partial or total inability to hear sounds, and it has been a common problem for many people. An individual with mild hearing loss might find it difficult to clearly understand or decipher speech, particularly if the surrounding environmental noise is too loud.

On the other hand, an individual with moderate to severe hearing loss might start to require a hearing aid to effectively navigate daily life. Fortunately, hearing loss can be prevented or treated. There are three types of hearing loss and one common symptom with preventive or treatment measures. Here is an extensive look at each type.

Tinnitus

Tinnitus is one symptom of hearing loss, which is characterized by the hearing of sounds that aren’t caused by the environment. These sounds can be in the form of buzzing, ringing, banging or music. Tinnitus is a common problem for many people, but it is usually not a sign of any serious illness and may be improved over time.

Treatment for Tinnitus

Tinnitus may be a common problem, but an individual could take some precautions to help reduce their likelihood of getting it. Some preventive measures include exercising regularly, lowering the volume when using headphones, or wearing ear protection for loud noises.

For people who are suffering from Tinnitus in Singapore, treatment is required depending on the severity of it. Usually, treatments aren’t required unless the symptom is consistent, worsens, or is affecting an individual’s daily activities and concentration. If your Tinnitus is causing you some discomfort, do consider seeking Tinnitus therapy from a specialist doctor in Singapore.

Conductive Hearing Loss

Conductive hearing loss is one type of hearing loss that occurs when there is a blockage or damage in the middle or outer ear. This will lead to sound waves not being transmitted adequately via the ear canal to the eardrum, or the eardrum through the ossicles of the middle to the inner ear. In most cases, it is caused by the accumulation of fluid in the middle ear from flu or cold, earwax, or a perforated eardrum. Conductive hearing impairment can also be caused by abnormal bone growth that involves the ossicles, recurring ear contagions, and allergies.

Treatment for Conductive Hearing Loss

Surgery might cure conductive hearing loss that is caused by the congenital absence of the ear canal or failure of the ear canal to be open, malformation, congenital absence or the dysfunction of middle ear structures. Amplification might also be a better solution with the utilization of bone-conduction hearing aid or the use of a cochlear implant, osseointegrated device or a traditional hearing aids for the elderly.

Experts dealing with tinnitus in Singapore points out that the type of treatment will depend of the condition of the hearing nerve. Antifungal or antibiotic medications can be used to cure chronic ear infection or chronic fluids.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) is a common type of hearing loss that happens when the nerves in the inner ear are damaged and don’t transmit sound waves to the brain well. It is caused by the damage of the hair cells in the inner ear due to age, noise or some medication.

Treatment for Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Sudden SSHL is alleged to be of a viral nature that can be cured with corticosteroids. The corticosteroids will be used to lessen the swelling and inflammation of the cochlear hair cells after being exposed to loud noise.

SSHL caused by head trauma or sudden change in air pressure can cause the inner fluid compartment to leak or rupture. Therefore, emergency surgery can help treat this condition.

SSHL from illness in the central nervous system might respond to medical care for certain diseases that affect the nervous system. For instance, hearing loss secondary to multiple sclerosis might be reversed by treating multiple sclerosis.

The irreversible SSHL is another hearing impairment that can be treated with best hearing aids. If hearing aids alone can’t help, the condition can be surgically managed with cochlear implants.

Mixed Hearing damage

Mixed hearing damage is another type of hearing loss that happens due to the mixture of conductive impairment in the external or central ear and sensorineural impairment in the auditory nerves.

Treatment for Mixed Hearing Loss

As recommended by professionals, you need to take care of the conductive structure first. Sometimes, the addition of the conductive structure can make the person a good Phonak hearing aids. For instance, you can do this by flattening out the audiogram while underlying sensorineural components offered a high-frequency loss.

Conclusion

Although there are preventive measures for some types of hearing loss, it is important to note that there are some types of hearing loss that may not be easy to prevent. For instance, hearing loss from birth and those caused by accidents or diseases. Nevertheless, some precautions can be undertaken to lessen the danger of losing your sense of hearing in general.

Here are some of the measures to help you protect your hearing:

1. Limit the total amount of time you spend on noisy places because loud noise is one of the major causes of hearing loss.
2. Develop the habit of wearing protective devices such as the earplug and ear muffs when using noisy machines or exposed to noise for a long duration.
3. Invest in the best earbuds or headphones that isolate your ears from the annoying sounds.
4. Make sure your ears are tested at least annually if you are regularly exposed to loud noises.

Final Word

Irrespective of the type of hearing loss you’re experiencing, audiologist and other health professionals emphasize on the significance of treating the condition. Note that uncured hearing loss or tinnitus can result in negative impacts on your health. So, it is better to insist on treating medically what can be cured.