Conductive Hearing Loss

The ears are sensory organs, whose main function is hearing. This ability helps us in listening to the various sounds around us and is helps us communicate. The ear is made up of the outer ear (pinna), eardrum (tympanic membrane), middle ear (ossicles) and the inner ear, which is attached to the auditory nerve connected in the brain. Sometimes due to an illness, certain ear problems, or trauma, the ear loses its ability of hearing. This condition is known as hearing loss and can be temporary or permanent. Hearing loss can be a congenital defect also, which is usually detected at the time of birth. There are different types of hearing loss, among which conductive hearing loss is one of them. Conductive hearing loss can be a result of obstruction in the transmission of sound waves from the external ear to the middle ear. When the sound travels from the environment to the ear canal, certain vibrations are produced, the end result of which is the sound we hear. When the vibrations fail to occur, it results in loss of hearing and the individual is said to be a hearing impaired individual. Let us take a look at the causes of hearing loss, along with the methods of treatment.

Causes of Conductive Hearing Loss

There can be different causative factors, depending on the environmental factors as well as on the health condition of the individual. Hearing impairment can be permanent as well as temporary hearing loss.

• One of the most common causes of hearing loss, especially partial deafness is the accumulation of earwax or fluid and the presence of foreign bodies in the ear canal.
• Ear Infections (either viral or bacterial) can also lead to hearing loss.
• Abnormal growth of tissue in the ear can obstruct the sound waves from reaching the cochlear.
• There are certain diseases that can be one of the causes of sudden hearing loss like measles, meningitis, mumps, scarlet fever, etc.
• There are a few drugs and medications like antibiotics, birth control pills, ototoxic drugs, quinine (for malaria), etc., which can create some side effects (known as ototoxicity), including hearing loss.
• Otosclerosis, or the growth of a benign or malignant tumor anywhere inside the ear is also one of the causative factors for partial or total deafness.
• A few other causes include external or middle ear infection, continuous exposure to loud noises (occupational hazard), artery blockage in the ear, smoking, neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis, etc.

Conductive Hearing Loss Treatment

Hearing loss can be a very distressing condition as it can interrupt with normal life. If you have a ear problem or suffer from pain, visit a doctor for diagnosis and a cure for this disorder. Given below are a few hearing loss treatment methods for a permanent relief.

• In case of earwax, the doctor may prescribe ear drops which will be effective in earwax removal by softening the wax.
• Antibiotics in the form of oral medication or ear drops, to cure ear infections, may also be prescribed by the doctor to cure the infection and stop it from spreading.
• Hearing aids can also be used by the individuals suffering from this disorder to improve hearing.
• Sometimes a surgery to remove obstructions from the ear canal or for a cochlear implant is also undertaken to treat this condition.

Hearing impairment can interfere with your lifestyle. If you are keen on avoiding this impairment, visit your nearest health care provider for a regular checkup to avoid any ear problems. Take care!