Do you sometimes feel like someone is mumbling when they are talking? Or do you find it hard to hear things even when you turn the TV up? Do you find it hard to join in a conversation in a group? These may be
early signs of
hearing loss, or hearing loss. Today, we will talk about this condition called severe
hearing loss , very simply, in a way that you can understand.
What is Severe Hearing Loss ?
Simply put, severe hearing loss means that you can hear some sounds, but they are at a very low level. You may not be able to hear someone speaking in a normal voice. You may only be able to hear very high-pitched sounds. This condition can affect people of any age and for a variety of reasons. It is not the same for everyone. The important thing is to work with your medical team to find ways to make the most of the hearing you have now. Don't worry, there are many treatments available today that can help you or your child live a happy life.
Why is this happening? What are the reasons?
There are many things that can cause this. Some babies are born with this condition. Children and adults can develop this condition at any time in their lives. It can happen suddenly, or gradually over years, in one or both ears. To understand how this happens, let's learn a little about how our ears work. Sound is a type of sound that travels through the air. These waves hit our eardrums and move three tiny bones inside the ear. This creates waves in the fluid inside the ear. These waves bend very fine hair cells that are connected to nerves. These send electrical signals to the brain via the main auditory nerve.
Congenital causes
In many cases, the main reason a baby is born with hearing loss is
genetic . Our
DNA contains many genes that help create the structures of the ear related to our hearing. If there is a problem with any of these, a baby can be born without this sensation. More than half of all babies with severe hearing loss are caused by this type of genetic defect. Sometimes it can also be seen with other genetic conditions such as `(Down syndrome)`. Also,
some problems that the mother has during pregnancy can affect the baby's hearing. For example, some medications that the mother takes (cancer drugs, some drugs for tuberculosis) or infections such as `(Cytomegalovirus)` can cause this.
Later causes
Hearing loss can occur as we age or at any other time in our lives. Here are some of the main factors that contribute to it:
- Noise : Sudden loud noises, such as gunshots or explosions, can damage the ears . Exposure to loud noises for a long time, such as near an airport, can also be a cause.
- Diseases: Conditions such as ear infections, brain tumors, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis , or Meniere's disease, a disease of the inner ear, can damage hearing.
- Clogs: Hearing can be blocked by earwax or something stuck in the ear. Care must be taken to remove these incorrectly, as they can damage the ear.
- Injury: Head injuries can damage the inner ear. Sports such as scuba diving can also sometimes affect it.
- Medications: Some medications for cancer, heart disease, and severe infections can damage the ear and cause hearing loss. Sometimes this is temporary and goes away when the medication is stopped. But sometimes it can cause permanent damage.
What are the symptoms of this condition?
The symptoms of hearing loss may differ slightly between children and adults. You can see this clearly in the table below.
| Symptoms seen in young children | Symptoms seen in adults |
|---|
| Delay or difficulty in speaking in a way that is appropriate for age. | Difficulty hearing what is being said in a group or in a noisy place. |
| Not responding to name or sounds. | Feeling like others are whispering. |
| Showing weaknesses in schoolwork. | Not being able to hear someone talking behind you. |
| - | Difficulty hearing what is being said on the phone. |
| - | Turning up the volume on the TV or radio excessively. |
| - | Not hearing the alarm go off. |
How to diagnose the disease?
It is especially important to identify hearing loss in children as early as possible, as it directly affects the child's ability to speak and overall development.
In most hospitals in Sri Lanka, a hearing test is performed immediately after birth. If not, you can ask the hospital staff about it.
Tests for newborns
- Automated Auditory Brain Response (AABR): In this test, soft earphones are placed in the baby's ears and several sensors are attached to the baby's head. Then, a machine emits very subtle sounds and measures whether the baby's auditory nerve responds to them.
- Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE): A small device is placed inside the baby's ear, emits subtle sounds, and measures the echo of those sounds.
If your child shows signs of hearing loss as they get older,
see your pediatrician right away . If you have hearing problems, see your family doctor. Your doctor will likely refer you to an ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT specialist) or an audiologist. They will ask about your medical history and perform an ear exam. In addition, they will do some special tests to see how severe the hearing loss is.
- Pure Tone Audiometry: While sitting in a soundproof chamber and wearing headphones, sounds of varying intensities are played and you are asked what sounds you hear.
- Speech Audiometry: Again, while wearing headphones, you are asked to repeat words at different volume levels. This test is done to measure speech understanding.
- Tympanometry: A test that measures the function of the eardrum and middle ear.
What are the treatments?
Treatment for severe hearing loss involves using various techniques to improve your hearing. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment. Your doctor will determine the best treatment based on your level of hearing loss, your health, your lifestyle, and how your ear was damaged.
These are designed to make low sounds louder and clearer. Some can reduce unwanted noise in the environment. There are also in-ear ones that are small enough to be invisible to others, and some that sit over the ear. You can take them off when you sleep or shower.
Hearing implants
- Cochlear Implants: These are used for people with severe hearing loss who are unable to use hearing aids. They do not cure hearing, but they stimulate the nerves in the inner ear to provide a sense of sound. The device is surgically implanted in the inner ear (cochlea). After about 4 weeks, external components, such as a microphone and processor worn behind the ear, are attached.
A cochlear implant is a very involved procedure. After surgery, you will need ongoing support from specialists and speech therapists to learn to recognize sounds and learn language with the device. Your medical team will decide if this is right for you or your child.
How to live successfully with this situation?
Hearing loss can be a difficult experience, but remember, there are many ways to help people of all ages with this condition live happily.
To help your child:
- Treatments such as speech therapy can help your child use hearing aids and communicate with others. You can also consider alternative methods such as sign language .
- Talk to your child's school about getting help in the classroom. Sometimes, devices like Hearing Assistive Technology Systems (HATS) can be used, which send sound directly to your child's hearing aids from a microphone used by the teacher.
As a help to yourself:
- Seek advice from an audiologist about solutions to problems you may encounter when speaking in noisy places or with a group of people.
- Use special devices that help you hear things like alarms, phones, and doorbells.
- Make your home environment more sound-friendly. For example, carpeting the floor can reduce unwanted echoes.
It is also a good idea to seek help from a counselor to help you deal with the feelings of anxiety and sadness that come with this condition. Also, talking and sharing ideas with others who are going through similar situations can be a great source of strength.
Take-Home Message
- Severe hearing loss is a condition that can occur at any age. There is no need to be afraid or ashamed of it.
- It is especially important for children's future to identify hearing problems as early as possible.
- Today, there are very effective treatments such as hearing aids and cochlear implants.
- If you suspect that you or your child has a hearing problem, see a doctor immediately without delay .
- With the right treatment and support, you can live a full, happy life, even with hearing loss.
Hearing loss, Hearing loss, Severe Hearing Loss, Hearing aids, Cochlear Implant, Hearing loss in children, Ear diseases
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