There are many causes of hearing loss which include disease, infection, ototoxicity noise exposure, trauma, tumors, and the aging process. Tinnitus (noise in the ears) may or may not also be present.
Common diseases which contribute to hearing loss are Otosclerosis and Meniere’s Disease.
Otosclerosis is a disease that impacts the middle ear. It involves one of the 3 bones in the middle ear and usually causes a conductive hearing loss.
Meniere’s Disease impacts the inner ear. It is usually accompanied by vertigo, aural fullness and unilateral hearing loss. It causes a sensorineural hearing loss and is often treatable with medications.
Medications used to treat certain diseases can also be damaging to the auditory system resulting in hearing loss:
- Aminoglycosides antibiotics (such as steptomycin, neomycin, or kanamycin)
- Salicylates in large quantities (aspirin)
- Loop Diuretics (lasix or ethacrynic acid)
- Drugs used in chemotherapy regimens (cisplatin, carboplatin, or nitrogen mustard)
If you see patients in your office who are on one or more of these medications please refer them for a baseline audiogram.
Harmful levels of noise can also cause permanent hearing loss. Prolonged noise exposure or even brief exposure to an impact sound can damage the hair cells in the inner ears and result in sensorineural hearing loss. Prevention is critical in terms of education and effective protective devices. Treatment is amplification.
Acoustic neuroma is a type of tumor that arises on the 8th cranial nerve. This causes a permanent hearing loss and usually presents with aural fullness and unilateral hearing loss. Treatment for this is surgical.
Physical Trauma can cause sensorineural hearing loss or conductive hearing loss. Trauma such as skull fractures, perforated tympanic membranes, and foreign objects in the ear canals can all result in hearing loss. Treatment ranges from medical to amplification.
Presbycusis hearing loss due to aging is permanent resulting in sensorineural hearing loss. Onset often starts in the fifties. Treatment is amplificiation.
You will see many if not all of these causes in your practice. The first step for managing all of them is obtaining a complete hearing evaluation by a trained Audiologist. Medical management will be determined at first consultation and referrals to other specialists will be made at your authorization.
Hearing loss is a significant disease with many possible causes. Thank you for addressing your patient’s hearing loss.
Sincerely,
Tina Jessee, Au.D.
