Cochlear neuritis of the auditory nerve is a disease that affects the inner ear. As a result, a person ceases to hear sounds well.
Symptoms of the disease
Cochlear neuritis, the symptoms of which are manifested in various forms, can be both acute and chronic. Common signs of the disease are:
- Sharp hearing impairment.
- The appearance of ringing or other sound effects in the ears. Most often they are high-frequency, that is, they are a squeak that is heard either in one or both ears.
If the treatment of the disease is not started in time, then a complete loss of the ability to hear is possible.
Acute cochlear neuritis
In the case of an acute form of the disease, symptoms develop gradually. Usually they are stored for a period not exceeding 30 days. Signs of acute neuritis are as follows:
- Tubes in the ears that periodically disappear.
- Persistent decrease in ability to hear.
- Hearing loss.
If these symptoms appear, consult a doctor immediately.
Chronic cochlear neuritis
If the acute form of the disease is not treated, it becomes chronic. In this case, cochlear neuritis, the treatment of which is important to start on time, can go through a stage that is characterized by a slow development of the following symptoms:
- gradual hearing loss;
- gradually increasing tinnitus, arising simultaneously with the loss of hearing ability;
- complete lack of ability to hear over time.
There are several more varieties of the disease, each of which has its own characteristics.
Other forms of the disease
As a rule, the forms of neuritis described above eventually lead to the development of other diseases. These include:
- Infectious neuritis, which develops when the acute stage of the disease manifests itself due to an infection that has entered the body. Influenza, mumps, typhoid fever, and malaria can provoke the development of pathology.
- Toxic neuritis that occurs when toxins enter the human body. This disease develops gradually, but its occurrence in the body is accompanied by nausea, vomiting and other unpleasant digestive disorders. This is usually bilateral cochlear neuritis, that is, it affects both ears.
So that the disease does not become incurable and does not provoke a complete loss of hearing, it must be detected in time. And for this it is necessary to understand the causes of the pathology.
Causes of cochlear neuritis
In the international classification of diseases, that is, ICD, cochlear neuritis is recorded at number 10 and refers to pathologies of the ear and mastoid process. In medicine, there are many causes of its occurrence:
- Viral infections.
- Infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria or typhoid.
- Poisoning of the body with heavy metals or antibiotics, which are used in the treatment of other diseases.
- Injuries received in everyday life or during work in harsh physical conditions.
- Recently purulent otitis media.
- Recently transferred meningogenic labyrinthitis.
- Problems with the blood circulation of the inner ear.
- Violations of the general functioning of the body associated with an abnormal or slow metabolism.
- Diabetes. With it, neuritis is a complication.
- Heredity.
- Stress and nerve stress.
- Allergic reactions.
- Tumors
- Age-related changes in the body.
- Sensorineural hearing loss, that is, a pathology that occurs without a specific reason.
The latter factor is often found in young people. It is very dangerous because it can lead to a complete hearing loss. About hearing loss should be discussed in more detail.
Sensorineural hearing loss
This disease proceeds as ordinary cochlear neuritis of the auditory nerve, but has no specific cause. Symptoms, treatment and diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss are the same as in neuritis. However, the complexity of the pathology is that it is extremely rare for a person to see a doctor on time.
This is due to the fact that there are no specific causes and prerequisites for the occurrence of the disease. In order not to lose hearing, for any problems associated with the ears, you must immediately contact the otolaryngologist and undergo appropriate treatment. Remember that irreversible complications can begin in the body at any time, so do not neglect going to the hospital. Every day can be decisive.
Diagnosis of cochlear neuritis
There are no visual changes in the anatomy of the auditory nerve, so a routine examination will not help the doctor determine the presence of the disease. To identify cochlear neuritis, the following activities are carried out:
- A detailed survey of the patient, which concerns not only problems with the ears, but also unexpected symptoms associated with diseases of other body systems.
- Fork test.
- Tonal threshold audiometry.
After a diagnosis is made, treatment is immediately prescribed, which may include many measures.
Cochlear Neuritis Treatment
Cochlear neuritis of the auditory nerve, the treatment of which is prescribed by the otolaryngologist, can be overcome quite quickly if you correctly approach this issue. It is worth noting that if the disease is acquired, but not inherited, it cannot be completely eliminated. You can only stop the process of hearing impairment, because the nervous tissue of the ear is damaged and is not able to recover. So, activities that help cure cochlear neuritis:
- Taking pharmaceuticals that improve metabolism and blood circulation.
- Vitamins mainly related to group B.
- If a neuritis provoked a viral infection, then drugs related to antiviral or antibacterial are prescribed.
- Taking pharmaceutical diuretics.
- Constant heavy drinking.
- Intravenous administration of glucose into the body.
- Acupuncture.
- The introduction of hormones into the tympanic cavity.
- Reception of drugs that dilate blood vessels.
However, the attending physician can independently prescribe additional procedures, which, he believes, will positively affect the condition of the auditory nerve. Folk remedies for the treatment of this disease have also been developed.
Congenital Disease Treatment
If cochlear neuritis is not acquired, but inherited, then it can be cured only with the help of surgical intervention. In this case, you should contact a good surgeon who has extensive experience. The operation is quite expensive, so get ready in advance for having to spend a round sum of money. In addition, this method is used with the participation of special implants, which also require financial investment.
Alternative methods of treating cochlear neuritis
Alternative methods of treating the disease are effective only with simultaneous treatment with medications. Without them, attempts to cure the disease can be fruitless. Folk remedies include:
- Hop decoction. It should be drunk 200 ml per day, preheated.
- A few drops of almond oil in your ear three times a day will help stop the process of hearing loss. In this case, manipulations must be carried out alternately. One day with one ear, the second day with another. It is necessary to carry out treatment in this way for a month, after which take a month break and begin the second course of treatment.
- Hot sand compresses warm your ears perfectly.
- Distribute one quarter of the lemon with the crust into 3 doses per day to speed up the metabolism.
- Instead of regular traditional tea, brew a drink made from red rose petals.
- Propolis tincture on alcohol mixed with olive oil will help stop the development of pathology if you moisten a cotton pad in it and insert it into your ears for a while.
In addition to the above methods, physical exercises will help in the fight against cochlear neuritis of the auditory nerve. They need to be performed regularly, without neglecting the technique. In addition, exercise also needs to be combined with medical treatment.
Physical education as a treatment
Physical exercises for the treatment of cochlear neuritis are aimed at stimulating nerves in the ears. They do not eliminate the pathology at all, but help stop the process of hearing loss. Medication in combination with folk remedies and physical exercises will save you from the inevitable in the absence of treatment loss of hearing ability. Perform the following exercises:
- Hold your palms firmly to your ears. But do not overdo it with intensity.
- Lightly tap the back of the head with your index finger. The sound you hear should resemble the sound of a drum.
- Hold your palms firmly to your ears and remove them very quickly. Do this exercise 12 times.
- Insert index fingers into your ears, but not too deeply. Twist them lightly and quickly remove.
These exercises should be done in strict sequence without breaks between them. Perform manipulations in accordance with the instructions, strictly observing the technique. In addition, regularity in treatment is important. Repeat these exercises every day. If you have the opportunity, give them time in the morning and before bedtime.
But a much better option is to prevent the disease. Prevention measures will help you not only not to experience hearing problems, but also prevent the development of other serious pathologies.
Prevention of cochlear auditory neuritis
Prevention of this disease basically boils down to preventing or promptly eliminating the causes of its occurrence. So, preventive measures include:
- Timely detection and proper treatment of infectious and viral diseases. It is especially important to treat upper respiratory tract pathologies on time.
- If you work in harmful or dangerous conditions, use all kinds of protection methods. Do not neglect special clothing, mask or anti-toxic agents. If you have symptoms of auditory neuritis, you must immediately change the type of activity.
- Periodically undergo an examination with an otolaryngologist in order to timely identify the prerequisites for the occurrence of the disease.
- If you have a hereditary predisposition to pathology, then take the preventive drugs prescribed by the doctor.
Thus, the prevention of this disease consists of simple actions, by performing which, it is possible to prevent irreversible consequences that contribute to poor health.
Can tinnitus pass on its own?
People who experience inconvenience due to tinnitus most often patiently wait for them to pass without medical intervention. They really can disappear without a trace, but only if the nature of this phenomenon is not associated with cochlear neuritis. Doctors recommend not to risk their health, but to undergo an examination with an otolaryngologist to make sure that your body is not in danger.
Particular attention should be paid to high-frequency noise, because it is he who speaks of the development of neuritis. If the rumble in the ears is mid-frequency or low-frequency, then it is most likely otitis media or an ordinary cork. But if you hear something that resembles a squeak, then do not hesitate to visit the doctor.
Hearing recovery after treatment
If the disease lasted for a long time, it is unfortunately impossible to restore hearing after the end of treatment. In this case, one of the following events is assigned:
- Wearing a hearing aid. You can not buy and install it yourself. A hearing aid should be set up by a professional.
- Implantation, which involves the installation of special equipment in the ear cavity. After the operation, rehabilitation is required, which takes place in accordance with the statement of the attending physician.
These methods artificially return hearing to humans. But if neuritis did not have time to completely capture the ear cavity, then it is necessary to stop the process of hearing loss. For this, once every six months the patient undergoes a special treatment course prescribed by the otolaryngologist.
Thus, cochlear neuritis of the auditory nerve is a complex disease that must be treated in a timely manner in order to prevent complete hearing loss.