Archive for August, 2019

As normal age-related hearing loss—presbycusis—typically affects both ears equally, if you notice your hearing loss is more severe in one ear, it might be something more than age-related hearing issues. Here are some other possibilities for hearing loss causes that affect one ear more than the other.

Ear infections

Chronic ear infections might be responsible for your hearing loss. Otitis media is the infection of the middle ear. It’s more common in kids, but adults can get it, too. Otitis media with effusion is an inflammation and infection of the middle ear with a buildup of fluid due to bacteria, which can last several weeks. A severe infection can block the Eustachian tube, which can impact your hearing abilities. Chronic ear infections can cause hearing loss, anywhere from 24 to 45 decibels, depending on the thickness of the fluid in the ear. It’s important to see your doctor because chronic, untreated ear infections can lead to permanent hearing loss.

Earwax

Compressed earwax, can also lead to differing levels of hearing loss in each ear. Earwax build up that affects hearing is pretty common—it affects six percent of the U.S. population. Aside from plugging the ear and causing hearing loss, compressed ear wax can lead to an infection because it traps bacteria.

Sometimes, however, a lack of good bacteria is the cause of wax buildup and infection. Good bacteria in the ear helps prevent ear infections, but according to a doctor cited in a 2012 New Yorker article, sometimes one ear has the good bacteria and the other doesn’t. If you suspect that you have hearing loss due to earwax, you should visit your primary care physician first.

Tumors

Though they are quite uncommon, tumors can cause differences in hearing between ears. The most common type of tumors that can cause hearing loss (called acoustic neuromas) are benign and slow-growing. They affect hearing by growing on the nerve leading from the brain to the inner ear. Because those nerves account for both balance and hearing, acoustic neuromas may cause both dizziness and hearing loss. If you have these symptoms, you should visit your primary care physician.

Content by HealthyHearing

Recently, researchers have started to study what, if any, the long term effects of hearing loss will have in regards to brain activity. University of Geneva psychologists found that people experience 3 different stages in the way they process language as a result of aging:

Stage 1 – increased distractions
Stage 2 – a decline in processing speeds
Stage 3 – less working memory

  Each of these stages adds even more problems to an already compromised hearing system.

A Johns Hopkins study found that people who had a hearing loss also had cognitive function decline between 30-40 percent faster than people with normal hearing.

The take away is “…hearing loss should not be considered an inconsequential part of aging, because it may come with serious long-term consequences to healthy brain function” according to Frank Lin, M.D., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Sensorineural is the most common type of hearing loss and it is often hard to recognize.

Not recognizing a hearing loss or underestimating its severity often leads to feelings of isolation. It may also mean that people delay getting help for their hearing loss.

The good news is that in many instances hearing loss can be treated. That treatment may make it possible to slow down the cognitive decline experienced by those with hearing loss. There are many possible reasons for a hearing loss; ranging from a buildup of ear wax to over exposure of loud noises.

If you or someone you know may be suffering from hearing loss, then please give us a call for a complimentary hearing screening.

Some content provided by Everydayhearing.com