Hearing Loss

What is Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss is a common condition that affects both children and adults. It can have a severe impact on a patient’s quality of life. Hearing loss can either be conductive or sensorineural. Conductive hearing loss occurs when a disease process interferes with sound waves from the environment reaching the inner ear. Sensorineural (nerve) hearing loss reflects a problem with the nerve conduction of sound from the inner ear to the brain.

In children, hearing loss is most commonly caused by fluid accumulation in the middle ear spacer (glue ear). Rarely hearing loss can be due to genetic conditions or diseases in the middle ear.

In adults, hearing loss can be associated with a new disease in the middle ear. Most commonly however it is due to lifetime loud noise exposure or it may reflect normal ageing.  Wax impaction can often exacerbate any underlying hearing problems.

Typically, the onset of hearing loss is slow however if the hearing loss is sudden and profound, this needs to be regarded as an emergency and the patient needs to be reviewed by an ENT surgeon within 48hrs of symptoms.

What are the symptoms of hearing loss?

Hearing loss in children can be associated with recurrent ear infections, speech & language delay, behavioural concerns and poor academic performance. In adults, patients may have difficulty localising the direction of sound or they may strugglel in noisy environments. Hearing loss can be associated with high pitched ringing in the ear (tinnitus) and vertigo.

How do you treat hearing loss?

Hearing loss treatment will be tailored to the underlying cause. A hearing test is required to identify the type and severity of hearing loss present. If the hearing loss is due to fluid accumulation in the middle ear (middle ear effusion), then grommets may be indicated. Alternatively, if the hearing loss is age related or caused by loud noise exposure, then hearing aids are often advised.