Can Loud Noises Harm Your Ears? The Causes of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is often considered normal, especially if you’re over 50. So you may think that a decline in hearing is nothing to be concerned about. This is simply untrue, as hearing loss can develop for a myriad of reasons - some more concerning than others. To give you a fuller picture of this often neglected symptom, let’s review the main causes, types, and signs of hearing loss. 

 

How Hearing Works  

The human ear is an incredibly complicated structure. If any part of the ear isn’t working as it should, this could lead to a decline in hearing. Hence, in order to understand how hearing loss can occur, we must first learn how our ears transform sounds into information that can be interpreted by the brain. 

Hearing starts when a sound wave travels from the outer ear to the eardrum - a thin skin seal that divides the outer ear from the middle ear. 

 

The sound wave makes the eardrum vibrate, and these vibrations are also picked up and amplified by the 3 ossicle bones in the middle ear called the hammer, anvil, and stirrup. The vibrations of the structure in the middle ear trigger a series of chemical reactions in the cochlea, a snail-shaped part in the inner ear. It is the cochlea’s job to transform sound wave vibrations into electrical stimuli that can be readily perceived by the brain. 

 

Any of the structures in the outer, middle, and inner ear, as well as the nerves and brain structures responsible for hearing, can be implicated in hearing loss. It is for this reason that a variety of health conditions and lifestyle changes can affect your hearing.

The Signs of Hearing Loss

One would think that hearing loss should be quite easy to spot. 

 

However, due to the often gradual nature of hearing loss and absence of pain, many people are unaware that their hearing is getting worse. This is a topic we discuss at length in the article 5 Subtle Signs of Hearing Loss. Briefly, some of the first signs patients can notice are: 

 

You frequently ask people to repeat what they said 

 

Compared to others, you always turn up the volume on the TV 

 

People often seem to speak incoherently or mumble to you 

 

It’s difficult for you to follow a conversation, especially on the phone or in crowded public spaces 

 

High-pitched sounds, like telephone ringing or birds chirping, are difficult for you to hear 

 

You often feel dizzy or off balance 

 

You feel pressure or fluids in the ear 

 

Tinnitus - a feeling of ringing in the ears 

 

 Earache. 

 

In children, hearing loss is often difficult to notice. If a child is never startled by loud sounds, doesn’t speak by age 1, or is not responsive to their name, they could be experiencing hearing loss. 

 

The Types of Hearing Loss

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) distinguishes between 3 types of hearing loss:

 

Conductive hearing loss - when sound waves can’t get to the middle ear, such as when there’s buildup of earwax that leads to muffled hearing. Ear infections, allergies, tumors, and foreign objects can also cause this type of hearing loss. Once the cause has been treated, hearing can often be restored. 

 

Sensorineural hearing loss - when the inner ear or the nerves are damaged. This type of hearing loss is usually permanent. 

 

Mixed hearing loss occurs when both the middle ear, the inner ear, and/or the nerve connections are damaged. 

 

Depending on whether or not hearing loss occurs in one or both ears, it can also be either unilateral or bilateral.

 

The Causes of Hearing Loss 

Now that you know what to look for and what structures could be involved in the loss of hearing, let’s examine the possible causes of this condition.  

 

1. Age-related hearing loss 

Age is one of the primary causes of hearing loss. In fact, it’s so common that this type of hearing loss has its own name - presbycusis. Estimates by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) suggest that 25% of adults aged 65-74 experience hearing loss.

Age-related hearing loss develops gradually and is bilateral. You may first notice that you keep turning up the volume on the TV or that people’s speech sounds unclear. Though experiencing some hearing loss with age is normal, it’s certainly beneficial to seek relief if the symptoms are getting uncomfortable. 

 

Presbycusis belongs to a type of hearing loss called sensorineural, which means that the issue lies with age-related changes in the inner ear, the middle ear, or the nerves that connect the ear and the brain. 

 

Age-related hearing loss can also coincide with serious underlying health conditions like diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. So, make sure to report this symptom to your physician, especially if hearing loss develops quickly or abruptly.

 

2. Illnesses that cause hearing loss  

 

A number of health conditions, including autoimmune diseases, cancers, and other illnesses can lead to hearing loss: 

 

Meniere’s disease  

An inner ear condition that causes dizziness, tinnitus, sensitivity to loud sounds, and fluctuating hearing loss in both ears. The cause of Ménière's disease is unknown, and it usually affects people aged 30-50 years old. Over time, it causes some degree of permanent hearing loss.

Autoimmune inner ear disease  

A rapid and permanent loss of hearing loss that occurs when the immune system starts attacking the inner ear. Seeing a doctor as soon as possible will help preserve your hearing with minimal damage. 

 

Otosclerosis  

A disease that affects the middle ear, limiting the movement of the ossicle bones. The condition can be treated with surgery. 

 

Ear infections 

Both viral and bacterial infections can result in hearing loss, but they rarely cause permanent damage. An example of this is swimmer's ear (otitis externa), which is a bacterial ear infection caused by water accumulating in the outer ear canal. This condition can lead to muffled hearing and loss of hearing, even though it’s typically temporary.

Seek immediate medical treatment whenever an adult or child exhibits signs of an ear infection:

 - Earache 

- Itching and irritation around the ear 

- Discharge oozing out of the ear 

- The feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear

 - Hearing problems 

- Fever 

- Fatigue. 

Tumors ​

 

Hearing loss can be caused by cancerous and benign tumors. For example, an acoustic neuroma can cause unilateral hearing loss. This is a non-cancerous tumor that develops near the cochlear nerve connecting the inner ear with the brainstem. As this slow-growing tumor grows, it can push on the nerve, causing hearing problems, tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness in your ear. You need medical attention to treat an acoustic neuroma.

3. Ototoxic drugs

Many medications used to treat infections, heart disease, and cancer can impact your hearing. Anything from over-the-counter medications like large doses of aspirin to common antibiotics and other prescription drugs, such as diuretics (e.g. lasix or ethacrynic acid), and certain chemotherapy treatments can result in hearing loss. 

 

These medications are known as “ototoxic drugs.” All in all, the ASHA counted over 200 such medications.  

 

4. Head injury

There’s a reason why we’re always told not to stick a cotton swab inside the ear canal while we are cleaning the ears. Any damage to the eardrum can rob you of hearing in one ear. But a ruptured eardrum is just one of many injuries that could result in hearing loss. 

 

Any accident, be it a traumatic brain injury or damage to the middle ear can lead to permanent hearing loss. That’s why any head injury, even if it’s merely inserting a cotton swab a bit too far, is always considered a medical emergency. 

 

5. Noise-induced loss of hearing

This is a question many of us wonder - can a very loud noise really make you permanently lose your hearing? Unfortunately, it can. Loud noises can damage the tiny hair cells located in the inner ear, making it increasingly difficult for your ear to convert sounds into electrical signals for the brain. 

 

While most cases of noise-induced loss of hearing happen gradually as you are exposed to loud sounds like traffic, loud music, or construction, the condition can also develop suddenly as a result of hearing a very loud sound, such as an explosion. 

 

Noise-induced hearing loss is painless, but it can be bothersome nonetheless. Luckily, it’s also largely avoidable, provided that you limit your exposure to noise by using earplugs and maintaining a moderate volume when using your headphones.

6. Hereditary hearing loss

Hearing problems are often passed down from generation to generation. Experts identify 400 known genetic syndromes that have hearing loss as one of the symptoms. These inherited hearing problems can be present at birth, or they can become apparent over time. 

 

If someone in your family is experiencing genetic hearing loss, you may develop the condition too, even though you may experience significantly lesser symptoms, as the degree of hearing loss tends to vary from one person to another. 

 

When to See a Doctor 

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you have hearing loss, especially if any of these other signs are present: 

 

Signs of infection, such as a high fever and fatigue 

 

Sudden hearing loss or deafness 

 

Dizziness or balance problems 

 

 Persistent tinnitus - ringing in the ears 

 

Earache.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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9 ‘Contagious’ Conditions That Are Not Truly Contagious

The outbreak of Covid-19 made us all acutely aware of infectious diseases and how they can spread. The problem is, symptoms for contagious and non-contagious conditions often overlap, making it hard to know how alert we should be. While taking precautions like frequent hand-washing is never a bad idea, it is also important to be aware that not all diseases are infectious. In fact, some conditions have a false reputation of being highly contagious when it is, in fact, not true at all. The following 9 conditions cannot be transmitted from person to person, though many people believe the opposite.

1. Pneumonia and Bronchitis

Both of these conditions are the result of respiratory infections - pneumonia infects the lungs while bronchitis is an inflammation of the airways. Whether or not these diseases are contagious depends on what caused them. 

 

Two types of pneumonia that can’t be spread from person to person are fungal pneumonia, which is contracted from the environment, and aspiration pneumonia, which occurs when food or liquid is inhaled into the lungs. Bacterial pneumonia, however, is indeed contagious and is also the most widespread cause of the disease, according to the American Lung Association. Yet, healthcare experts claim it isn’t as infectious as most of us think. The microorganisms that travel from person to person will not automatically lead to pneumonia but might have a much milder effect depending on the individual. 

 

The case for bronchitis is very similar. Acute bronchitis, which is caused by a virus, is contagious, while chronic bronchitis isn’t. The latter is an ongoing condition often caused by long-term smoking or exposure to environmental pollutants.

2. Psoriasis

When we see someone suffering from a skin condition, it is easy to make the mistake of thinking it can be transmitted by touch. While we can’t cover all skin afflictions in one article, we can assure you that one of the most common conditions, psoriasis, is not contagious at all. Psoriasis affects about 2% of the American population and has nothing to do with germs or bacteria that can be passed between people. Rather, it’s an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the skin. 

 

Telltale signs of psoriasis include red, itchy patches of skin with white scales on top, mainly found on the elbows, knees, and scalp.

3. Ear Infection

Ear infections in itself are not contagious, and can’t be ‘caught’. In fact, one of the common causes is water in your ears. The bad news is that oftentimes, ear infections are a complication of the common cold, as the virus leads to fluid buildup in the middle ear. “Due to congestion caused by the cold, the inner ear fills up with fluid and can become secondarily infected by bacteria; these stay in the ear and are therefore not contagious,” explains Matthew Mintz, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine. 

 

It is important to note that if an ear infection started with a cold and the patient still has cold symptoms, those can still be contagious.

 

4. Rosacea

Rosacea is another widespread visible skin condition, which isn’t contagious nor is it caused by bad hygiene. Rosacea, which hits approximately 14 million Americans, can be recognized by redness, visible blood vessels in the face, and sometimes acne-like breakouts. The causes of rosacea are unknown, but experts theorize it is a combination of genetics and environmental factors. Flare-ups can be triggered by a number of things including hot drinks and spicy foods. 

 

The National Rosacea Society explains that antibiotics used to treat rosacea may be effective because they help to combat inflammation, not because they’re killing bacteria.

5. Lyme Disease

When it comes to Lyme Disease the only ones who are contagious are the infected ticks, according to the CDC. The bacteria-based disease can only be transmitted when a tick attaches to your skin and feasts on your blood. It cannot be transmitted between humans in any way, not through casual contact and not even through kissing. 

 

Pets aren’t infectious either, though they can carry ticks into your home.

 

6. Malaria

Similarly to Lyme disease, mosquitos are the only ones guilty of spreading malaria. Only certain species of mosquitoes of the Anopheles genus - and only the females of those species - can transmit the potentially deadly disease. When they bite you, malaria parasites are released into your bloodstream. Symptoms include fever, headaches, muscle pains, feeling hot and shivering, jaundice, among others. 

 

While malaria cannot be transmitted from person to person, it infects red blood cells, which means you could get it through a blood transfusion, by sharing an infected needle, or during pregnancy or childbirth.

7. Tetanus

Have you ever been scolded as a child because you were walking barefoot outside? The danger of tetanus likely had something to do with it. Tetanus, also referred to as lockjaw, causes intense muscle spasms which leads to a ‘locking' of the jaw and difficulty in opening the mouth and swallowing. The bacteria responsible for this disease is mainly found in soil, saliva, dust, and manure. 

 

It enters the body through broken skin; the CDC points out that likely ways to get tetanus are via puncture wounds (like from stepping on a nail), wounds that get dirty, and burns. Infected individuals are not contagious. You can get vaccinated against tetanus, and a booster shot is required every 10 years.  

8. Cellulitis

Cellulitis is caused by bacteria that live on the outer layer of our skin and are often harmless, most commonly group A strep. It becomes a problem, however, when the bacteria penetrate deep into the skin. “If there is damage — either from a cut, recent surgery, or even athlete’s foot — that damage can allow in bacteria, which can affect the deeper layers of the skin,” explains Dr. Mintz. This can result in a serious infection, characterized by swelling, redness, and fluid-filled blisters. The infected area will typically be warm and painful to touch. 

 

While cellulitis needs to be taken seriously, as it can deteriorate into a life-threatening condition, it isn’t contagious. If there is pus or oozing fluid, however, which is not typical for cellulitis, this material can spread infection. 

 

9. Legionnaires Disease

Legionnaires' disease is a rare form of pneumonia caused by the legionella bacteria. It typically begins with fever, headaches, and muscle aches. By the second or third day, people also develop a cough, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, and confusion or other mental changes. Outbreaks of legionnaires disease are likely, although the disease isn't contagious. 

 

This is because the culprits are contaminated water supplies. According to the National Institutes of Health, exposure can come from faucets, showers, whirlpools, and the ventilation systems of large buildings. Transmission can only occur when a person inhales mist or water droplets that contain the legionella bacteria. 

 

Not everyone who is exposed to the bacteria will contract the disease. Those at higher risk groups are people over 50, especially if they have a weakened immune system due to chronic illness or smoking.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement