The three small bones that are responsible for this complex process are the malleus, the incus, and the stapes, collectively known as the ear ossicles. In other words, it is the mechanical transfer function that allows for efficient transfer of collected sound energy between two different media. Again, your ENT specialist and/or audiologist can help you decide which device may work best for you depending on your hearing test results and your lifestyle.The middle ear plays a crucial role in the auditory process, as it essentially converts pressure variations in air to perturbations in the fluids of the inner ear. SNHL can be treated with the use of conventional hearing aids or an implantable hearing device. Surgery to correct the cause of the hearing loss.Preferential seating in class for school children.Evaluation and fitting of a hearing aid(s) or other assistive listening devices.Medical therapy-corticosteroids (oral or injection through the eardrum) may be used to reduce cochlear hair cell swelling and inflammation after exposure to loud noises diuretics may be used for Ménière’s disease.Continuing observation with repeated hearing tests.Your ENT specialist may recommend specific treatment options based on the results of your hearing test, or other potential tests such as a CT or MRI imaging scan. A critical part of the evaluation will be a hearing test (audiogram) performed by an audiologist to determine the severity of your hearing loss, as well as whether it is conductive, sensorineural, or a combination of both. Once a diagnosis is made, your physician will be able to talk to you about all treatment options. This is important because the treatment for hearing loss depends on the cause. If you are experiencing hearing loss, you should see an ENT specialist who can make the correct diagnosis. Benign tumor-called “ vestibular schwannoma,” this is a noncancerous tumor on the adjacent balance nerve that compresses the hearing nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain, causing SNHL.Congenital inner ear malformation-genetic or environmental abnormalities (very common cause in children).Cochlear otosclerosis-abnormal bone growth in the inner ear.Central nervous disease-damage caused by a condition such as multiple sclerosis. Ménière’s disease-a condition characterized by fluctuating hearing loss, dizziness, ear fullness, or ringing in the ears (called tinnitus).Autoimmune inner ear disease-the body’s immune system attacks the inner ear and causes progressive hearing loss in both ears.Head trauma or abrupt changes in air pressure-this can cause the space that contains inner ear fluid to rupture.Acoustic trauma-exposure to loud noises (e.g., industrial/machinery or explosion/gunfire close to the ear can be prevented with proper protection).Aging-gradual SNHL that cannot be reversed (most common).Sudden hearing loss-may be caused by a virus you should see an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist, or otolaryngologist, for urgent treatment that could help recover some hearing.Auditory nerve abnormalities will also cause SNHL. Sound energy reaches the cochlea, but damaged hair cells are unable to convert sound waves into neural signals that pass through the auditory nerve to the brain. SNHL happens when there is damage to tiny hair cells in the cochlear and/or the auditory nerve.
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