Conductive Hearing Loss: Causes, Signs, and Treatment
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Conductive hearing loss is a common auditory disorder that affects millions of people throughout the world. Whether you're personally affected or seeking information for a loved one, don't break the rhythm! Read on to explore the world of conductive hearing loss and learn how to enhance your auditory health.
Definition of conductive hearing loss
- A form of hearing loss caused by external factors that impact the middle ear and cause significant harm to it. This barrier interferes with proper sound conduction, resulting in a decrease in the loudness or clarity of the sounds perceived.
- Hearing difficulties with faint sounds, muffled or distorted speech, and a sense of fullness or pressure in the affected ear are all symptoms of conductive hearing loss.
Pediatric conductive hearing loss
- Yes, as you expected ! This condition of hearing loss occurs in children, hindering their development process and their ability to enjoy life, and reducing its quality. This disorder may not arise in children solely as a result of trauma or injuries, but genes may play a part in its presence, and in this instance, early detection is preferable to waiting.
Causes of conductive hearing loss
A precise cause for this medical problem can only be determined by a diagnosis from an ENT specialist. However, there are several prevalent reasons, which are as follows:
- Allergic responses causing fluid in the middle ear.
- A hole in the eardrum.
- Tumors or cancers.
- Earwax becoming lodged in the ear canal.
- Congenital flaw.
- Otitis media caused by inflammation and infections.
Symptoms of conductive hearing loss
The symptoms of this condition are not perplexing at all because they have a direct impact on one's quality of life and cannot be tolerated. Here are some of the symptoms:
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ear).
- Difficulty hearing non-vowel letters of the alphabet.
- Impaired or muffled hearing.
- Feeling of fullness or stuffiness in the ear.
- Ear drainage.
- Burning sensation in the ear.
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Treatment of conductive hearing loss
Like other conditions, the treatment options for conductive hearing loss depend on many factors, including:
- Surgery.
- Amplification and evaluation of hearing aids.
- Use of antibiotics or antifungal medication.
- In the pediatric form, it's preferable to choose seats in school classes.
Diagnosis of conductive hearing loss
An audiogram is one of the initial steps in diagnosing conductive hearing loss, and it may be sufficient in some cases. However, for other conditions, additional tests may be required, including:
- Various scans (CT, MRI, etc.).
- Tympanometry.
- Audiometric test.
Conductive hearing loss audiogram
- First and foremost, you should understand what an audiogram is and why it is related to our condition. An audiogram is a technique that uses a graph to show the results of a pure-tone hearing test. So, when there is anything that blocks the ear canal, interferes with the vibration of the eardrum, or disrupts the chain of hearing bones, it will result in conductive hearing loss, which would be shown in the audiogram test.
Complications of conductive hearing loss
Signs of the disease may worsen to:
- Devastating speech and language delays in children's cases, which can have an impact on their schooling if not recognized early.
- If left untreated, several disorders that cause conductive hearing loss can result in irreversible hearing loss.
Do you believe you or someone you know might need to consult with a doctor for a conductive hearing loss ? Book an appointment with one of our ENT specialist today to have all your doubts and questions answered.
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