Treatment Solutions for Hearing Loss

Hearing Impairment or Hearing Loss is a general term given to complete or partial loss of hearing ability from one or both ears. Hearing loss is one of the most common sensory impairments and seen in almost 10% of the adult population and the percentage markedly increases with ageing.

Hearing loss can attack anyone of any age at any time. As per the John Hopkins Medicine, 20% of people above the age of 12 have at least some degree of hearing loss. Hearing loss being a common and life-altering issue, must be addressed as early as possible. In spite of being a potentially debilitating health issue, many people delay seeking the treatment out of fear or embarrassment.

Untreated hearing loss is linked to an other health problems both physical and psychological including cognitive decline, anxiety, depression, and increased risk of trips and falls. People with hearing loss frequently have difficulty following day-to-day conversations and may begin withdrawing from activities and other things they enjoy. Treating hearing loss can improve your life drastically by enhancing confidence, performance at work and the ability to communicate with family and friends without inhibitions.

There are treatment options for every type and degree of hearing loss. These options are determined by a hearing healthcare provider and physician. The appropriate treatment depends upon a number of factors including, severity and type of hearing loss, the underlying cause and lifestyle.

TREATMENT OPTIONS

Below are the different types of hearing loss treatment options:

1) Medication: Antibiotics, decongestants and pain medication are used to overcome ear infections. Medical therapy with corticosteroids lessen the cochlea hair cell swelling and inflammation and improves healing of injured inner ear structures. Recent research showed that D-methionine has the potential to reverse noise-induced hearing loss if started within seven hours after the occurrence of damage.

2) Myringotomy: It is a surgical procedure of the eardrum or tympanic membrane done by piercing of the eardrum to relieve pressure caused by excessive buildup of fluid, or to drain pus from the middle ear. Myringotomy tubes (often called ear tubes) are small tubes that are surgically placed into a child's eardrum by an ENT surgeon. The tubes may be made of plastic, metal, or teflon. It is indicated in different cases of otitis media (OM: inflammation of the middle ear) including acute otitis media (AOM), recurrent AOM with effusion (RAOME), and chronic otitis media with effusion (COME).

3) Insertion of a tube: The eustachian tubes (part of the ear that connects the middle ear to the back of the throat) open temporarily and make the air pressure equal inside and outside the ears during swallowing or yawning. They drain fluid from the ears but, if the tube cannot open, fluid gets trapped in the middle ear and creates pressure causing ear pain. A tube is inserted into the Eustachian tube to keep it open and allow for normal fluid drainage. This technique may be recommended for people who get frequent ear infections.

4) Hearing Aids: There are different kinds of hearing aids. These help in making the sounds more louder and makes easier for the inner ear to pick up the sound. These can be either analog or digital.

• Analog Hearing Aids: These convert the sound into electrical signals, and then make them louder. They work like a microphone plugged into an amplifier and can be programmed for different environments.
• Digital Hearing Aids: These convert sound into a code of numbers, and then change them back into sound. These can be programmed to amplify only the frequencies where you have hearing loss. In general, digital devices are more flexible than the analog kind but they are comparatively expensive.

These hearing aid devices come in many different models, including:

• Behind-the-ear: It is best for mild to severe hearing loss. It comprises a plastic case, which can be worn behind your ear. They are somewhat large and also powerful.
• Open-Fit: These are also worn behind the ear. They transmit sound through a narrow tube that you put into your ear canal.
• In-the-Ear: This model helps in mild to severe hearing loss. The parts of the devices are so tiny that they fit completely inside the outer ear. These are not a good choice for young children because their outer ears are still growing.
• In-Canal: This model is the best for mild to moderately severe hearing loss. They are small enough to fit inside the ear canal. They are also less powerful than larger ones, and they usually cannot have a telecoil.

5) Surgery and surgically Implanted Hearing Devices: Surgery may be necessary if you've had a traumatic ear injury or repeated infections that require the insertion of small tubes that help the ears drain. Stapedectomy is the common surgical procedure used. It includes replacement of the fixed stapes suprastructure by a teflon piston. Surgical treatment has immediate improvement on table and post-operative recovery is usually fast. Below are the few surgical implants.

• Middle ear implants: Surgeon attaches a small device to one of the bones of the middle ear so it can move them directly, which sends stronger sound vibrations to the inner ear. The implants help people with sensorineural hearing loss. These implants are one of the latest advances, so it is important to speak to a expert who has experience putting them in
• Bone-anchored hearing aids: These go into the bone behind the ear, where they transmit sound into the inner ear through the skull. These devices are usually recommended for people with
  
  • Hearing loss in one ear,
  • Problems with the shape of their ear canals and
  • Conductive or mixed hearing loss with long-term ear infections
• Cochlear implants: If the inner ear has severe damage, even the most powerful hearing aid can't restore your hearing. In such cases, your ENT surgeon may recommend a cochlear implant. Cochlear bypass the damaged parts of the ear and send signals directly to the auditory nerve that relays sound to the brain. A cochlear implant has a microphone that goes behind the ear and a transmitter that goes under the skin. Sound information goes to electrodes that a surgeon puts in your inner ear through surgery. These implants can help adults who are deaf or severely hearing-impaired. They can also help children with profound hearing loss have better speech and language skills.

6) Wax blockage removal: Earwax blockage is a reversible cause of hearing loss. Your doctor may remove earwax by loosening it with oil and then flushing, scooping or suctioning out the softened wax.

Why Choose BSR Hospital for HEARING LOSS TREATMENT?

BSR ENT Hospital is one of the renowned ENT Specialist Hospitals in Secunderabad with a team of expert and experienced surgeons who ensures the best quality treatment to patients. The 40+ years of experience explains our expertise in this world. Highly qualified, experienced and trained ENT specialists.

Like Dr.B. Shanker Rao, MS, DLO, FICS and Dr.B. Kalyan Chakravarthy, MS ENT /Head and Neck Surgeon, are proficient at delivering best in treatment solutions for all ENT disorders.

We at BSR, applies highly advanced surgical techniques including middle ear implants, the reverse small fenestra stapedotomy prosthesis operation that delivers excellent results in hearing restoration.

Our in-house Clinical and Biochemical Laboratory/Radiology help in quick diagnosis and treatment making it convenient for our patients. At BSR hospital, we offer cost effective treatment for our patients with the finest quality treatment.