Decrease in a person's ability to perceive sound, causing great difficulties with speech communication, is commonly referred to in medicine by the term "hearing loss". Hearing impairment can be diagnosed in both the elderly and young children. A similar clinical picture is due to various factors, including congenital disorders.
Hearing loss, the reasons for which are any external influences or pathologies of the internal organs, can be cured with the help of modern medical technologies. In this process, folk remedies also provide considerable help.
Acute hearing loss diagnosed in young children requires compulsory and immediate treatment, as, among other things, it can lead to a delay in the child’s mental development. Consider these issues in more detail.
Causes of pathology in children
Regardless of the external symptoms, the factors causing the described disease are well understood. Hearing loss in children is provoked by the following diseases:
- otitis media;
- scarlet fever;
- measles;
- rubella.
There are cases when hearing impairment in young children appeared due to improper treatment with antibacterial drugs that have an ototoxic effect.
Adult Disorders
Hearing loss, the symptoms of which manifested itself in a more mature age, are due to:
- acute infectious diseases caused by various dangerous pathogens (meningitis, flu, syphilis, cytomegalovirus);
- allergic to various external factors;
- traumatic effects both directly on the ear and on the head as a whole;
- neoplasms of a benign and malignant nature, appearing in the head cavity;
- acoustic injuries.
In addition, a decrease in the ability to perceive sound waves may appear due to atherosclerosis and hypertension. A considerable influence on the quality of hearing is also exerted by work in hazardous industries.
The hearing organs of older people reduce their functionality due to changes in the auditory nerve, as well as the gradual death of tissues of the inner and middle ear.
There is also hearing loss, the reasons for which are poisoning with various poisons at work and in everyday life.
Types of disease
There are several varieties of the pathology in question. First of all, stand out:
- unilateral hearing impairment (one ear is affected);
- bilateral hearing loss (when negative processes that affect hearing affect both organs of a person).
In addition, depending on the reasons that influenced the occurrence of the violation, there is a slightly different division. Medical specialists distinguish between:
- conductive disease;
- sensorineural pathology.
It should be noted that it is not uncommon for several factors to simultaneously affect hearing loss or loss. In this case, mixed hearing loss is diagnosed, which requires a special approach to treatment. For example, when using hearing aids, you will need a view with a special design.
Conductive hearing loss
This type of pathology appears in the patient in the case when an obstacle is formed on the path of sound vibrations. Such violations include:
- sulfuric plugs;
- improper development of the inner or middle ear;
- various forms of otitis media;
- foreign bodies in the auditory canal;
- tumor formations;
- traumatic effect;
- otosclerosis.
The main symptom of the type of violation under consideration is a change recorded in the sound bone and affecting the eardrum.
Sensorineural hearing loss
In this case, the inability to perceive the sound series is due to the disappearance or impairment of the ability to convert vibrations of sound waves into pulses that are understandable to the human brain.
When a patient is diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss, the symptoms of which will be discussed below, there is not only a deterioration in the quality of speech perception, but also sound distortion.
This condition can be caused by the following violations:
- neuritis of the auditory nerve;
- injuries
- atherosclerosis;
- age-related changes;
- infectious diseases;
- hypertension.
You can distinguish the described variety of pathology with the help of concomitant signs that often accompany hearing loss: nausea, vomiting, tinnitus.
Symptoms and degrees of pathology
As mentioned above, outwardly the disorders associated with hearing loss manifest themselves in the form of noise, a weaker perception of sounds (especially a high frequency - a female voice, cries of birds, children's laughter). A person often can not hear his interlocutor, increases the volume of the TV, has difficulty communicating on the phone.
More acute external manifestations of the disease are visible with pathology due to a violation of the conversion of sound waves into nerve electrical impulses. Depending on the nature of these symptoms, medicine distinguishes the following degrees of sensorineural hearing loss:
1 degree. In this case, the patient is able to distinguish words uttered in a whisper at a distance of about three meters. Ordinary human speech is well perceived when the interlocutor is at a distance of 4 meters from the victim’s ear. Some sounds are not perceived correctly, the conversation is accompanied by a clear presence of extraneous noise in the ear.
2 degree. When a person hears a whisper at a distance of up to 1 meter, and words spoken at normal volume are no further than 4 meters, one can speak of hearing loss of 2 degrees. Treatment of such a pathology is carried out in a medical institution with the help of special techniques and hardware systems. The use of hearing aids is sometimes necessary. By the way, this hearing impairment leads to the fact that the patient perceives sound treatment to him only when it is repeated several times with a louder intonation.
3 degree. The patient does not perceive a whisper from a very close distance (no further than an outstretched arm). The interlocutor's speech is heard at a distance of up to 2 meters. With such a degree of hearing loss, a person cannot feel comfortable in the environment, it does not allow him to communicate normally. The treatment and use of an apparatus that amplifies sound waves is mandatory in this case.
Concrete methods of getting rid of the disease are prescribed only after a detailed diagnosis and study of the clinical picture of the disease. In addition, the age of the patient must be taken into account.
If we talk about alternative treatment for hearing loss, then such methods should be used only in conjunction with traditional treatment, and also after consultation with a medical specialist.
Diagnostics
For the purpose of making a primary diagnosis, speech audiometry is usually performed. Its essence is that a doctor who deals with hearing problems establishes the patient's ability to perceive whispers and normal human speech.
After that, to determine the specific root cause of the disease, a consultation with an audiologist is carried out. The chosen method of getting rid of pathology directly depends on the conclusion made by him.
Typically, the following methods for diagnosing hearing impairment are used:
- audiometry;
- tuning forks;
- tone audiogram;
- otoscopy.
Treatment methods
The specific measures aimed at eliminating the violation depend on the causes of the disease.
If a conductive form of pathology is established, to improve hearing it is necessary to restore the natural state of the auditory ossicle and membranes that perceive sound vibrations. This can only be achieved by operational action on damaged organs. In especially severe cases, it is possible to put artificial prostheses instead of damaged organs. This allows you to cope even with cases of complete hearing loss.
Sensory hearing loss of 2 degrees requires greater attention. The treatment of such a disorder is complicated by the fact that it is caused by damage or complete death of specific ear cells that cannot be restored with a scalpel. In this case, the following may help:
- drug therapy;
- physical therapy procedures;
- electrical stimulation of the organs of the inner and middle ear.
With the third degree of hearing loss, only the correct selection of an apparatus that amplifies sound waves will help get rid of deafness.
Let us dwell in more detail on the fight against a disease of the second degree of complexity caused by neurosensory causes.
Nootropic drugs
Often there is a condition when in the organs of the inner and middle ear a deterioration in blood supply is observed, due to which oxygen starvation (hypoxia) of the auditory nerve occurs. This causes a hearing loss of 2 degrees. The treatment consists precisely in eliminating the symptoms described above.
Medicines whose active substance has antihypoxic properties help well. You can also use pharmacological agents that improve blood circulation of the brain and hearing organs. The so-called nootropics possess all these properties. These include:
- Pentoxifylline;
- Cinnarizine
- Fezam;
- Semax
- "Piracetam" and others.
Among other things, these drugs contribute to improving the resistance of nerve and auditory cells to negative external influences, and improve their immunity.
The main factor affecting the effectiveness of treatment should be recognized as its speed. So, immediately after the diagnosis of pathology, the listed pharmacological agents should be introduced into the body through a dropper. During the first four days, the dose gradually increases, and then lasts for 1-2 weeks.
The described therapy should show a positive result, after which the patient is transferred to maintenance and prophylactic drugs. The rehabilitation period is about 2 months. At the same time, preference is given to intramuscular injections and tablets taken orally.
Naturally, all procedures should be carried out under the strict supervision of a medical professional.
Antihistamines
Sometimes degree 2 hearing loss, the treatment of which is carried out using the above drugs, is accompanied by additional external signs:
This indicates that negative processes occur not only in the organs of hearing, but also in the so-called labyrinth - an organ that allows the brain to determine the position of the body relative to the earth.
To combat the described symptoms, antihistamines are used to reduce the pressure of the liquid in the maze and improve blood circulation in the capillaries penetrating the tissues of the inner ear. An example of such drugs may be:
- Betagistin;
- Bellataminal;
- Betaserk.
Non-drug therapy
In order to maximize the effectiveness of the treatment, in addition to using various medicines, it is necessary to undergo some procedures that have a positive effect on the organs of the inner and middle ear. This will significantly reduce the rehabilitation period.
One of the commonly used methods is reflexology (one of the varieties of acupuncture). Recently, instead of conventional needles, a laser beam can be used. Both procedures are similar in nature and impact.
A typical acupuncture course consists of 10 treatments. If necessary, the treatment is repeated at intervals of one month.
In addition, hyperbaric oxygenation has repeatedly proved its beneficial effect. This procedure implies the following. The victim breathes a special air mixture in which the percentage of oxygen is increased. Its molecules, entering the body, have a positive effect on the blood circulation in the capillaries and improve the functioning of the hearing organs, which accelerates recovery.
Conclusion
Violation of a person's ability to perceive sound speech does not add him comfort in everyday life. Acute hearing loss in general casts doubt on his ability to maintain a familiar lifestyle. However, the achievements of modern medicine can quite effectively deal with the described pathology. The main requirements are speed and full medical control. Therefore, do not neglect the visit to a doctor, do not self-medicate!