How to improve hearing loss with hearing loss: helpful tips

Hearing loss refers to temporary or permanent hearing loss due to any reason. According to statistics, almost every inhabitant of the planet experiences bouts of temporary hearing loss at least once in his life. A constant decrease in hearing is more characteristic of the elderly. However, sometimes persistent hearing loss occurs in younger people. Why does it arise and is it possible to get rid of it?

How do we hear

In order to understand how hearing loss occurs, you need to know how hearing is generally formed. The outer, inner and middle ear (first, second and third departments) are distinguished.

The first section is represented by the auricle, which passes into the cartilaginous, and then the bone ear canal. These departments are necessary in order to amplify sound waves. Then follows the eardrum (outer membrane), to which the elements of the second department are attached.

The second section has three small bones connected in series. They move when sound strikes the outer membrane and presses it inward. The movement of the bones is transmitted to the inner membrane separating the second section from the third.

The movement of the inner tympanic membrane oscillates the fluid (perilymph and endolymph). These vibrations are transmitted to the auditory nerve receptors. The auditory nerve is the VIII pair of cranial nerves. It transmits momentum from the auditory receptors to the temporal cortex. This is how our perception of sound waves is formed. Hearing impairment can occur at any stage of its formation.

Types of pathology

Depending on the level at which there is a decrease in sound transmission, several types of hearing loss are distinguished:

1. Conductive. It occurs if the outer or middle ear is affected. At the same time, the sound wave meets an obstacle in its path and can no longer fully penetrate the inner ear. As a rule, such hearing loss is either temporary or permanent, but treatable with various correction methods.
2. Sensorineural. In this case, the structures of the inner ear (the receptor apparatus of the eighth pair of FMN) are affected. In this case, the mechanical vibrations of the fluid of the inner ear do not become electrical impulses that must reach the cortex. Such hearing loss is rarely corrected.
3. Mixed. In this case, signs of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss are observed.
4. Neural or cortical. It occurs when the auditory nerve itself or the structure of the temporal gyrus is affected. This type of hearing loss is not treatable.

An otorhinolaryngologist diagnoses hearing loss with an audiometer. In addition, various tuning forks and an external examination of the auricle are used. All types of hearing loss, except neural hearing, are treated by an otorhinolaryngologist. A neurologist does neural work.

The causes of hearing loss

There are many reasons that can lead to hearing loss. The following are often found:

1. Blockage with sulfuric grease (plug). A special lubricant called sulfur is constantly produced in the ear canal. It is necessary to protect the sound-collecting apparatus of the ear. Normally, sulfur is removed from the ear on its own, but in some people this process is poorly developed. Then sulfur accumulates and forms the so-called cork. This plug closes the ear canal, causing hearing loss.
2. Damage to the outer membrane. This reason is quite common.The external eardrum can be injured due to improper cleaning of the ear canal, as well as from bumps and falls.
3. Otitis. So called inflammation of one of the ear. Most often, otitis media occurs, which occurs during acute respiratory viral infections. At the same time, exudate accumulates in the cavity of the middle ear, which interferes with the movement of the auditory ossicles, which causes hearing loss. In addition, exudate can break through the outer eardrum, which will only exacerbate hearing loss.
4. Damage to the receptors of the auditory nerve. This pathology occurs when many factors are affected. For example, some viruses (measles, mumps, HIV) adversely affect the ends of the auditory nerve, which causes hearing loss. Some drugs have the same ototoxicity. Most of all, the use of antibiotics of the aminoglycoside series (gentamicin) leads to hearing loss.
5. Congenital hearing loss. In this case, hearing loss occurs due to underdevelopment of the structures of the sound-receiving apparatus or intrauterine damage to the auditory nerve by toxic substances. For example, when a future mother drinks alcohol, fetal alcoholic hearing loss occurs. The intrauterine infection with syphilis also adversely affects the auditory nerve.
6. Senile hearing loss. It occurs in the vast majority of people older than 70 years. This is due to the coarsening of the tympanic membranes, sclerotherapy of the auditory cavities and a decrease in the sensitivity of receptors to vibrations of the fluid of the inner ear.
7. Damage to cortical structures. In this case, the sound waves pass normally and even turn into electrical impulses, but these impulses do not reach the cortex and the person does not hear the sounds surrounding him. The reason for this can be strokes, injuries and brain tumors of the temporal localization.

Ways to Improve Your Hearing

The choice of a way to get rid of hearing loss primarily depends on the cause of it. Methods for improving hearing may be as follows:

1. Cleansing the ear canal. This method will get rid of sulfur cork. To do this, it is enough to instill 3% hydrogen peroxide into the ear canal, wait five minutes and clean it with a cotton swab.
2. Tympanoplasty. So called plastic surgery to restore the eardrum. It is necessary in case of any types of damage to the latter.
3. Treatment of otitis media. This type of treatment should be prescribed by a doctor. As a rule, treatment consists in the use of special drops, oral administration of antibiotics, sometimes, in addition to this, exudate is evacuated.
4. Hearing aid. It is established if auditory nerve receptors are damaged. This apparatus is capable of transforming mechanical vibrations. At the moment, there are many of its varieties.
5. Electrical stimulation. This type of physiotherapeutic effect is aimed at the treatment of sensorineural, neural and cortical hearing loss. In this case, there is a constant stimulation of the auditory nerve, which sometimes leads to an improvement in its functioning. Unfortunately, the method is not always effective.
6. Physiotherapy. It is aimed at improving blood supply to the ear. To do this, close the ears with your hands, and then quickly pull them back, make intense chewing movements with your jaw, and exhale with your mouth and nose closed.

Thus, we can conclude that there are many reasons for the development of hearing loss. The methods for its correction directly depend on the cause. It is worth remembering that the faster you diagnose hearing loss and begin treatment, the greater the chance of restoring your hearing. It is recommended to consult an otolaryngologist immediately after hearing loss has occurred. The doctor will not only establish the type and causes of hearing changes, but also prescribe the correct therapy. Self-medication in this case can lead to permanent hearing loss.

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