Deafness, Hearing loss

Deafness and hearing loss are serious problems when a person is unable to fully or partially perceive sounds and speech. Deafness differs from hearing loss in that with the latter, the amplification of the speaker’s voice allows speech to be perceived intelligibly.

Absolute deafness is rare; usually only very loud sounds are perceived, and sometimes individual sounds of speech spoken loudly near the ear. Deafness can be congenital or acquired. The causes of congenital deafness can be damage to the hearing organ during childbirth, underdevelopment of the inner ear or auditory nerve, as well as infectious diseases of the mother during pregnancy. Acquired deafness can be a consequence of inflammatory diseases, infectious diseases, exposure to occupational hazards, as well as prolonged exposure to noise and vibration.

Inflammatory diseases of the middle ear, even purulent ones, rarely lead to deafness, but the spread of the inflammatory process to the inner ear if left untreated can cause the development of deafness. The same is observed with otosclerosis, when the lesion spreads from the auditory ossicles to the inner ear. Congenital or acquired deafness can lead to deaf-muteness.

The rapid development of deafness can occur with some infectious diseases, in particular with meningitis, typhus, mumps, and also as a result of the uncontrolled use of certain antibiotics. With otosclerosis, atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels and under the influence of occupational hazards, deafness develops slowly. The first sign is tinnitus, followed by hearing loss, which occurs slowly.

In this regard, timely treatment of diseases that contribute to the development of deafness is of great importance. In advanced cases, the disease can spread to the inner ear and cause the death of sensory nerve cells. In this case, hearing function is not restored. Long-term exposure to occupational hazards can also lead to persistent deafness; therefore, strict control over the state of hearing function of workers is established at the relevant production enterprises.

Modern medicine has various methods of treating deafness and hearing loss, including the use of hearing aids, cochlear implants, drug therapy and surgical methods. However, the effectiveness of these methods depends on the specific cause of deafness or hearing loss, and their use should only be prescribed after a thorough examination and diagnosis.

In addition, there are preventive measures that help prevent the development of deafness and hearing loss. This includes wearing ear protection or cotton plugs when working in noisy environments, limiting the amount of time you spend in such environments, getting regular preventive health screenings, and avoiding the use of toxic substances that can damage your hearing.

Overall, deafness and hearing loss are serious problems that can significantly limit a person's quality of life. However, modern medicine provides a wide range of treatment and prevention methods that help prevent or reduce these problems.