hearing loss

ABCs of Conductive Hearing Loss

Hearing aids can be used in correcting conductive hearing loss so it’s important to discuss your options with your doctor. This is particularly true in cases when the Corti organ in the cochlea still normally functions. The hearing aids amplify the sound coming from the outside into the outer or middle ear.

 

But what’s conductive hearing loss in the first place? Here are the basics that you should know in case your doctor gave a diagnosis of conductive hearing loss.

 

A – About Conductive Hearing Loss

There are a few types of hearing loss and conductive hearing loss is common. This is the result of issues in the delivery of sound waves to the cochlea, the part of the inner ear responsible for the sense of hearing.

 

But don’t worry prematurely about it. The good news is that most cases of conductive hearing loss have good prognosis.  Like most types of hearing loss, early diagnosis and intervention will make a significant difference in preventing more hearing loss or improving hearing capability.

 

B – Being Aware of the Signs

The signs and symptoms of conductive hearing loss can be confused with the signs of other illnesses or injuries. Their duration and severity can also widely vary depending on the exact cause.

 

If you have two or more of these symptoms, either simultaneously or in succession, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible.

  • Muffled hearing, such as when the voices of others seem far away
  • Steady or sudden loss of hearing in one or two ears
  • The feeling of fullness or stuffiness in one of both ears
  • Dizziness
  • Loss of balance (The ear plays a major role in balance and coordination)
  • Drainage from the ears
  • Feelings of tenderness, discomfort and/or pain in the ears

 

Your doctor will conduct medical history and physical exams, as well as order laboratory exams to determine the exact cause behind these symptoms.

 

Causes of Conductive Hearing Loss

When the natural movement of external sound waves through the external or middle ear becomes blocked, the result is conductive hearing loss. In this case, some but not all of the sound waves enter the inner ear, thus, the decreased hearing capacity.

 

There are several causes of conductive hearing loss, particularly to the damage on the ear’s external structures.

  • Earwax buildup, which can completely block the ear canal
  • Swimmer’s ear, also known as otitis externa, isn’t just related to swimming in pools and other bodies of water. Instead, it’s an infection in the ear canal that can also be the result of use of cotton buds or Q-tips as well as water exposure.
  • Foreign bodies, such as small objects like beans and beads, can get stuck in the ear, as is the case for children. In adults, it can be small insects being lodged in the ear.

 

Other causes include non-cancerous lesions in the bones in the ear canal; aural atresia or physical defects in the external ear canal; and infections in the middle ear.

 

Source:

HK Hearing & Speech Centre

Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,

and Hearing Aid Prescription

http://www.hkhearingspeech.com

Will Hearing Loss Cause Alzheimer’s Disease and Vice Versa?

This is a question that people with hearing loss or with families experiencing hearing loss often ask. We understand because there seems to be a connection between hearing loss and Alzheimer’s disease, such as when an older person with Alzheimer’s disease also diagnosed with hearing loss.

 

Studies Suggest a Link

Researchers have looked into the possible connections between hearing loss and Alzheimer’s disease, a disease characterized by the decline in cognitive function and memory capability. Johns Hopkins University researchers, for example, have conducted several long-term tracking studies abut it

 

In one study, they monitored senior people over several years to determine which of them developed Alzheimer’s including their rate of progression. Their studies show that seniors with hearing loss have higher rates of dementia, a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. They also found that the greater the hearing loss, the higher the risk for dementia.

 

The bottom line: Yes, indeed, there seems to be a strong link between hearing loss and Alzheimer’s disease.

 

Theories Behind the Connection

But before you jump to conclusions, perhaps think of the worst scenarios, keep in mind that these studies only show the connection. But these studies don’t suggest that progressive hearing loss can result in dementia, far from it!

 

Researchers propose a few theories in explaining the link between these two conditions.

 

  • Changes in brain function

The brain has an area that controls the processing of auditory information and, thus, of the sense of hearing. But when its function is compromised or strained, such as in hearing loss, it causes a restructuring in the brain. In turn, it can affect cognitive function.

 

  • Cognitive overload

With hearing loss, your brain works harder to make sense of the words being said by other people. You spend more mental energy and work on conversations so much so that your brain goes into cognitive overload. As such, your brain doesn’t have enough energy for other cognitive functions including memory.

 

  • Social isolation

Unfortunately, social isolation has serious impact on physical and mental health. When you have untreated hearing loss, you’re more likely to feel isolated from everyday conversations. You can feel alienated and alone, which can adversely affect your cognitive function.

 

These are, of course, just theories at present. But these provide reasonable explanations for the link between hearing loss and Alzheimer’s disease.

 

What do these studies mean for people with hearing loss and with Alzheimer’s disease? We suggest being rational about it, first and foremost! Just because you have hearing loss doesn’t automatically mean that you will develop Alzheimer’s disease.

 

You may want instead to seek medical intervention for your hearing loss. You may or may not need hearing aids but it pays to know the reasons for your hearing loss and what can be done about it.

 

If you think your family needs a hearing aid, make sure to get a hearing aid prescription. For more details of our hearing test & assessment, and hearing aid services, please contact HK Hearing & Speech Centre.

 

Source:

HK Hearing & Speech Centre

Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,

and Hearing Aid Prescription

http://www.hkhearingspeech.com

Tips on Social Distancing as a Person with Hearing Loss

The restrictions on movement brought by the coronavirus pandemic has made it even more challenging for people with hearing loss to communicate and connect with others. Just imagine wanting to enjoy conversations with family and friends yet not being able to because of quarantine restrictions. Your frustrations may be greater because before you started wearing hearing aids, you couldn’t communicate well with others.

 

But don’t get carried away by your emotions about being cooped up at home when you want to be socializing. You can still socialize with family and friends while still adopting social distancing measures, as well as enjoy your time in quarantine. Here are a few tips that we think are effective.

 

Use Technology to Stay Connected

We live at a time when technology makes it so fast and easy to communicate with people halfway around the world. You then have no excuse to be disconnected from your family even when you’re not in the same room! You have Zoom, WhatsApp, Skype and Facetime as well as the social media websites that can be your bridge between you and your family and friends.

 

Call and video chat your family and friends every day, if possible, so you don’t feel alone. Besides, your calls may also be a lifeline for them since they are also cooped up at home.

 

If you’re having difficulties hearing others on the phone or on video chats, you can use the captioned feature – the texts of your conversation will be reflected on the screen. You will also naturally revert to reading facial expressions, perhaps even lip reading, when you’re on video chat.

 

Create a Daily Routine

You may want to set a routine so that there’s something familiar you can look forward to every day. You may find it comforting amidst the uncertainty of the times. You may even find it less stressful since a daily routine means being in control.

 

Start by listing down the activities that you should do on a daily basis, from waking up to sleeping, getting work done and relaxing, and from resting to exercising. But you don’t have to be gung-ho about following your daily routine! You are, after all, the master of your time now that you’re at home for most, if not all, of the day.

 

Learn Something New

Perhaps you’ve been putting off learning to bake, cook or knit. Perhaps you didn’t have the time before. So many perhaps but your time in quarantine is a great time to remove these perhaps in your life! You can learn something new, read new books and even starting a new business.

 

None of us wants to have physical distance from our family and friends in keeping with the social distancing and shelter-in-place orders. But we have to do our part in minimizing the spread of the coronavirus while still being connected to the outside world.

 

If you think you need a hearing aid, make sure that you get a hearing aid prescription. For more details of our hearing test & assessment, and hearing aid services, please contact HK Hearing & Speech Centre.

 

 

Source:

HK Hearing & Speech Centre

Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,

and Hearing Aid Prescription

http://www.hkhearingspeech.com

What Caused Your Hearing Loss?

Do you feel like you’re hearing external sounds less and less? Do you feel like there have been significant changes in your hearing capacity? If you answered yes to these questions, then you may have hearing loss.

 

We must emphasize, however, that you shouldn’t self-diagnose, much less use suspicious products including supplements, tools and devices that promise to restore your hearing capacity to its previous level. You have to make an appointment with your doctor so that the appropriate medical and auditory examinations can be made.

 

But it doesn’t hurt either to know these causes of hearing loss either! You will then be able to make more sense of your hearing aids prescription with the information. Keep in mind that these are just a few of the numerous causes of hearing loss – ask your doctor for more information.

 

Congenital Hearing Loss

Sadly, some children have congenital hearing loss, a condition that often runs in families although it can also occur due to an infection during pregnancy or with maternal diabetes.

Other causes include premature birth, neonatal jaundice, and birth-related trauma like oxygen deprivation.

 

Childhood Illness

Children have sensitive ears and even a seemingly simple infection can affect their hearing

capacity. Ear infections are the common cause for hearing loss in children – these cause fluid buildup in the middle ear although it usually clears up after treatment.

 

Many common childhood diseases can also cause hearing loss, especially when these aren’t

promptly and properly treated. These include encephalitis, chickenpox, measles, influenza,

mumps, and meningitis; most of these diseases can be prevented with vaccines so be sure to ask your children’s pediatricians about them.

 

Age

Many, if not most, older people experience hearing loss as a natural part of aging. Unfortunately, it’s a common occurrence even when you have protected your ears as best as you can. The hearing loss isn’t your fault – it’s caused by the progressive loss of the hair cells in your inner ear. You can’t prevent it but you can ask an audiologist for assistance on hearing aids and therapy.

 

Tumors and Growths

When there’s something blocking your ear canal, you will experience hearing loss. The blockage can be a growth, such as a tumor (e.g., benign polyps or cancer), the removal of which may or may not relieve hearing loss. Even earwax buildup can cause temporary hearing loss.

 

Exposure to Loud Noises

Long-term exposure and short-term yet severe exposure to loud noises can result in profound hearing loss. The noise itself can be from machinery at work, from motorcycles and vehicles, and from speakers during concerts and fireworks.

 

Your doctor will customize your hearing aids and therapy, among other treatment options, based on what caused your hearing loss in the first place. But for now, take good care of your ears!

 

Although it is tempting to buy something cheaper and affordable on the Internet, you have to be aware that you might be losing some professional services such as hearing test & assessment from an audiologist, hearing aid adjustment orientation to fit your ear and hearing diagnosis, and hearing aid rehabilitation services, etc. These services are necessary to help you achieve quality hearing health care and the fullest benefit you can get from a hearing aid.

If you think you need a hearing aid, we are a specialist offering hearing test & assessment, hearing aid prescription and professional services.

 

 

Source:

HK Hearing & Speech Centre

Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,

and Hearing Aid Prescription

https://www.hkhearingspeech.com

Misconceptions about Hearing Loss Sufferers – Can Deaf People Drive?

Can deaf people drive? It is a common thought that they can’t. How could they do so if they don’t hear other vehicles’ horns and other necessary sounds? But while numerous people think that driving is definitely not for the deaf, there are also some claims that they are actually better drivers.

 

On this page, we will discuss about the common thoughts about hearing loss sufferers . Which are facts and which are just mere misconceptions? Continue reading

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