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Hearing Loss

Hearing Loss

Summary:

Hearing loss is considered to be the most pervasive yet least treated health condition of all physical handicaps in the United States. What is hearing loss and what are the causes?

Learn About:

Fact: Unmitigated hearing loss is one of the most common causes of depression and isolation in older Americans.

Fact: Symptoms of uncorrected hearing loss may mimic outward behavior characteristics of early-onset Alzheimer’s. Only a team that includes both hearing and medical professionals can ascertain the symptom components that overlay one another.

Fact: Artificial control of hypertension can lead to constriction of the microcirculatory system that feeds the inner ear, contributing to hearing loss.

The Challenges of Hearing Loss:

  • The breaking of bonds in personal relationships
  • Poor or difficult-to-attain academic achievement
  • Diminishing ambitions
  • Failing income
  • A host of language and cognitive disorders

Yet, when presented with these medical and behavioral symptoms, the last place some astute health professionals will explore is the hearing health state of the individual.

What is Hearing Loss and What are the Causes?

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

This type of loss involves the inner ear and constitutes at least 90% of all losses. It is characterized by damage or deterioration of the ears’ delicate hair cells, ganglia or neural fibers and/or the supportive structure of the inner ear. Sensorineural hearing loss is predominant among older adults, especially in the form of presbycusis or hearing loss associated with aging. It is rare in children. This type of loss is commonly caused by noise exposure (and commonly referred to as NIHL or Noise Induced Hearing Loss), ototoxicity or damaging exposure to certain medications and/or chemicals or by disease.

More on Noise Induced Hearing Loss

Fact: Noise-induced damage to the delicate, inner hair cells is the cause of most hearing loss. 

Loud, high-decibel sound above 140 db. and some serious infections will harm the ear’s hair cells. Once damaged, the hair cells lose the ability to transmit sound to the brain and cannot be replaced or regenerate. At birth, a healthy ear has approximately 3500 of these hairs; loss of a few can make a substantial difference in our hearing capacity.

Noise-induced hearing loss can result from a single exposure to an extremely loud sound such as a gunshot. It can also occur as a result of repeated exposure to loud sounds over time.

Prevention of NIHL is absolutely critical

  • Carry ear plugs & don’t be shy about using them.
  • Noisy machinery, loud music, impromptu motorcycle rides — these all can have a devastating effect on one’s hearing. Avoid unprotected exposure.
  • If you have a regular need for ear protection, DigiCare can custom make molded ear protection.
  • Tell the people you care for about the importance of ear protection.

Tinnitus & Hearing Loss

One of the genuine mysteries in healthcare today is the condition called tinnitus or ringing of the ears. More than 30 million Americans complain of chronic tinnitus, about 12 million of whom experience it so severely that it interferes with  quality of life. Will there ever be a cure for tinnitus?

As a result of more than 30 years research, we at DigiCare have concluded, that because there are myriad underlying causes for tinnitus, unless these causes are addressed, nothing substantive happens.

It is more accurate to understand tinnitus, not as a stand-alone condition, but as a symptom of other things wrong in the body. The single most common malfunction in at least 90% of cases of long-term tinnitus, is that of uncorrected hearing loss.

But the mystery deepens. Other underlying causes of tinnitus, which also cause hearing loss, are: noise trauma (NIHL), past and present ear infections, chronic inhalant allergy, diabetes mellitus II, cardiovascular disease, depression, hyperlipidemia, arthritis, and chronic dehydration, to name but a few. Finally, the terrible side- and interaction-effects of many prescription medications coupled with any of the above are also causes of hearing loss and tinnitus.

Please visit our website's comprehensive tinnitus section to learn more about this condition and what we do at DigiCare to help.

Conductive Hearing Loss

Involves the external ear and/or middle ear structure. This type of hearing loss makes up only about 8% of all hearing loss. It is most prevalent among young children and rare in adults. It is many times medically treatable.  It is commonly caused by physical obstruction, infection, allergies and / or a deformity of the ear.

Central Auditory Deficit

This type of loss is characterized by a deficiency in the neurons or intermediary processes of the central auditory system at the brain stem and /or auditory cortex. It frequently corresponds with other forms of hearing loss. It is characterized by lack of language comprehension rather than threshold acuity.  Central Auditory Deficit is commonly caused by sensory deprivation from uncorrected hearing loss, stroke or trauma.

Note: Many hearing losses exhibit one or more of the above conditions to varying degrees in each ear independently. Each loss is unique.


A comprehensive DigiCare Hearing Test and Evaluation helps identify and quantify your particular hearing loss profile and needs. We are available to answer any questions you may have about hearing loss or hearing health. Call or email us to get started.

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