Hearing Center - 3 Ways In Which Impairment Occurs

While the list of ways in which auditory impairment can occur is extensive, your local hearing center and your ENT doctor will probably be most familiar with one of three ways. These are the most common paths to the loss of one's ability to hear (although even they can take a number of different forms). It is important to understand how impairment occurs for a few reasons. One, it will help you avoid any activities that could lead to losing some of your sensory abilities. Two, it will prepare you for what treatment steps you need to take if you are suffering from loss. Here are three ways in which impairment occurs.

Inner Ear Damage

When a doctor or a hearing center refers to irreversible auditory loss, this is the kind of loss they are talking about. Inner ear damage usually comes about in one of two ways. One is age, which no one can do anything about. The other is repeated and prolonged exposure to noise volumes in excess of what the ear can handle. When this exposure happens the small hairs in the inner ear can become damaged, impeding their ability to communicate vibrations and sounds waves to the cochlea. Sounds become muffled and sometimes distorted. The main treatments for this types of loss include listening aids and other assistive devices.

Earwax Blockage

Yes, sometimes auditory loss is no more complicated than a buildup of wax! While this seems like something you could handle on your own, it is highly recommended you see a doctor instead. Not only will a doctor be able to remove more of the wax than you can on your own, he will be able to do so safely. This latter note is the most important aspect of getting it done professionally. Trying to use Q-tips, candling, and even over the counter methods can be risky for the health of your ear. You don't want to create a permanent problem while trying to fix a temporary one.

Infection

Children are prone to frequent ear infections, as anyone who has young children is more than familiar with. A hearing center employee is likely to have seen adults come in who suffered permanent auditory loss due to an ear infection when they were young. This is why it is essential to identify and treat ear infections when they first appear. Other illnesses that can create auditory problems include the flu, meningitis, and any illness that leads to a high fever.