What to do if your ear is hard of hearing
Hearing loss is a partial loss of hearing, which is often accompanied by difficulties with speech communication. According to medical statistics, at least 8% of the world's population faces a similar problem.
Table of contents:
- What to do if your ear is hard of hearing
- What factors need to be dealt with?
- When to seek help from a doctor
- How to deal with the problem
- Conservative methods
- Non-drug methods
- Folk recipes
- The ear does not hear and does not hurt: what to do at home
- Causes of disorders and accompanying symptoms
- Method for eliminating violations and their diagnosis
- Prevention
- We recommend watching the video:
- The ear is hard of hearing, but it doesn’t hurt – the causes of the disease and how to get rid of it?
- Signs of hearing loss
- Possible causes of hearing loss
- First aid for ear congestion
- The ear has stopped hearing: causes and solutions to the problem
- If the ear cannot hear and is noisy: what to do and how to treat it?
- Causes of hearing loss
- Conductive type of illness
- Diagnostic methods
- Acoustic neuroma
- Hearing loss in children
- Why can't my ear hear but doesn't hurt?
- Causes in children and adults
- Symptoms of deafness
- Diseases affecting hearing loss
- Meningitis
- Piggy
- Rubella
- Treatment process
- Preventive actions
The list of reasons for poor hearing in the ears is quite extensive - these include previous ENT diseases (primarily otitis media), injuries, systemic infections, etc. Many patients are interested in the question of whether hearing can be restored. Most specialists answer this question positively - in case of timely diagnosis and correctly selected treatment, the fight against hearing loss can be very successful.
What factors need to be dealt with?
If one ear suddenly stops hearing, there may be many explanations for this. In any case, only a doctor can accurately determine the factors that caused hearing loss. As a rule, disabling deafness is the result of chronicity of acute ear pathologies.
Thus, low-grade inflammation leads to the destruction of the mucous epithelium, receptors and auditory ossicles. Such abnormal changes will certainly affect auditory function or lead to complete deafness.
Senile deafness is practically not amenable to drug and physiotherapeutic correction
All the “culprits” for poor ear hearing can be divided into two groups: congenital and acquired causes. The first is a genetic predisposition to ear pathologies and abnormalities in the development of the auditory analyzer.
The second group is represented by:
- systemic and direct ear infections (tonsillitis, influenza, meningitis, otitis);
- long-term use of ototoxic drugs;
- the ear has difficulty hearing due to excess wax in the external auditory canal;
- injuries to the skull and the auricle itself;
- hearing often becomes worse due to a deviated nasal septum.
A blockage in the blood vessel that directly supplies the inner ear or a cerebral hemorrhage can also cause hearing loss. There is no pain syndrome (the problem is localized outside the auditory organ), but tinnitus may well “pursue” the victim. As a rule, the problem is preceded by a skull injury.
Ear pain is a common consequence of cerebral atherosclerosis. This is a disease associated with the formation of cholesterol plaques on the vascular walls and the abnormal changes accompanying this process.
I cleaned the ear canals and now my ears hurt and are noisy - this phenomenon can occur due to injury to soft tissues or the eardrum. It is obvious that these symptoms are also accompanied by hearing loss. Ear congestion is usually a symptom of ARVI or influenza. The course of respiratory diseases is accompanied by swelling of the mucous membrane and hearing problems.
Earwax is a common cause of hearing loss
Other factors that can lead to hearing dysfunction:
- a sharp loud sound (for example, an exploding firecracker);
- entry of liquid or foreign objects into the ear canal;
- sulfur plug (prevents the passage of sound impulses to nerve endings);
- chemotherapy, radiation.
Tinnitus deserves special attention. The appearance of this unpleasant symptom can have objective and subjective reasons.
In the first situation, the problem is caused by abnormalities of the mandibular joint, frequent swallowing movements, or pressure surges in the middle ear (associated with the Eustachian tube).
Subjective factors causing tinnitus:
- cervical osteochondrosis;
- chronic cerebrovascular diseases;
- hypotension;
- Meniere's disease;
- neuritis of the auditory canal;
- otitis of different localization and etiology.
When to seek help from a doctor
Signs that one or both ears have become worse at listening are the following “signals”:
- the patient begins to listen to whispers more and more often;
- the interlocutor’s speech resembles muttering and seems unclear;
- it becomes problematic to perceive a conversation in a noisy environment;
- a person catches himself feeling “I can’t hear the TV well,” etc.
How to deal with the problem
The selection of treatment methods is carried out only after determining the reason why one (both) ears cannot hear. The results of numerous clinical studies indicate that treatment of hearing loss is most effective only in the early stages of the development of the pathology.
Complete or partial recovery is possible in 70–80% of cases (with a correctly selected comprehensive therapeutic course). True, it is worth considering that in this situation we are talking about the fact that audibility has decreased sharply, suddenly.
Otosclerosis is a pathology that causes hearing loss in one or both ears
Chronic untreated otitis media of various etiologies and localizations, inadequate therapy for hearing loss, addictions and constant contact with industrial hazards (noise, chemicals, dust) are factors that significantly (by 20–30%) reduce the effectiveness of the fight against auditory dysfunction. Improper use of ear sticks can result in soft tissue damage or eardrum rupture.
ENT doctors warn that when the inflammatory process in the ears becomes chronic, sooner or later perforation of the eardrum occurs. This, obviously, is fraught with progressive hearing loss and complete deafness. In this case, the patient will only benefit from hearing aids and surgical treatment.
Conservative methods
What to do if only the right ear has poor hearing? Acute forms of ENT disease respond well to traditional hospital treatment. The patient is placed in the appropriate department of the clinic, where specialists carry out emergency hearing restoration in 5–7 days.
The essence of conservative therapy is as follows: the patient is administered intramuscularly or parenterally with special drugs that fight the inflammatory process, restore “healthy” tissue trophism, and stimulate their epithelization (accelerate wound healing).
The next stage of treatment is aimed at eliminating the factors that provoked hearing loss (deafness). In total, the patient spends no more than 2 weeks in a hospital setting. If the dynamics of recovery are positive, home therapy can continue for several more months.
If there is noise and pain in the ears, and hearing has become worse in the left ear, the patient is given medicinal treatment using the following medications:
- nootropic drugs (Vinpocetine, Pentoxifylline) to normalize blood circulation within the auditory analyzer, this, in turn, allows you to restore the structure of soft tissues and roots inside the hearing organ.
- Antibiotics (Cefexime, Amoxicillin) are used to eliminate suppuration caused by pathogenic microflora.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Nurofen). This group of medications controls inflammation in the mucous membranes and nerve endings.
- Vitamin complexes (Vitrum, Benfotiamine). They restore metabolism in cells, improve the functioning of the auditory analyzer, and stimulate its nerve conduction.
- Antihistamines (Zyrtec, Claritin). They reduce the intensity of the production of liquid exudate and relieve swelling in the tissues of the middle ear.
Non-drug methods
If a child under 12 years of age does not hear in one ear, the culprit is most likely inflammatory processes (otitis). It is children who are most susceptible to this kind of disease due to the structural features of the Eustachian tube.
Prevention of hearing loss - rules that are recommended to be followed at any age
To prevent the child from subsequently becoming deaf due to chronic otitis, in addition to traditional drug therapy, it is better to seek help from the following procedures:
- Politzer blowing - copes well with hearing loss resulting from chronic otitis media, eustacheitis or trauma;
- hyperbaric oxygenation – during manipulations, soft tissues are saturated with oxygen, metabolic processes and blood circulation are restored in them;
- massage – ensures acceleration of microcirculation of lymph and blood in the affected areas, leading to their regeneration.
Physiotherapy is another help if one ear hears worse than the other. Such procedures are aimed at eliminating purulent, catarrhal processes developing in the inner or middle ear, ensuring the normal outflow of exudate accumulated in the affected area.
The list of the most popular physiotherapeutic manipulations includes:
- electrophoresis (thanks to direct current, medicinal compounds are “delivered” to the site of inflammation);
- franklinization (high voltage current is applied to the foci of inflammation, due to which pain goes away, swelling disappears, and hypersecretion of exudate decreases).
Folk recipes
If, after a flu, cold or other respiratory disease, the ear on the left or right suddenly stops hearing, proven homemade compounds will come to the rescue. So, 100 g of pre-grated beets are placed in an enamel pan, 200 g of water and 1 tbsp are added there. l. honey
The mixture is sent to the fire, brought to a boil, and boiled for another 15 minutes. The finished composition is removed from the stove, cooled, placed on a cotton swab, and placed around the sore ear for 1 hour. Manipulations are carried out twice a day until the condition improves.
If ear pain and hearing loss appear after hypothermia (or the person simply has a cold), it is useful to instill 2-3 drops of almond oil into the shells. After the manipulations, the ear canal is closed with a cotton swab for several hours.
For acoustic neuritis, the following recipe will help:
- 40 g of propolis are poured into 100 g of vodka, the mixture is sent to a warm place for 10 days, shaken from time to time;
- After the expiration date, the infusion is filtered and combined with vegetable oil in a ratio of 1:4.
Classification of auditory dysfunctions used in diagnosis
A cotton swab soaked in the prepared medicine is carefully inserted into the ear canal, left for 12 hours, and then replaced with a new product. To increase hearing acuity, it is useful to perform the following gymnastics: press your palms firmly to the ears, tap your fingers on the back of your head, then pull your hands back sharply. Manipulations are performed 12 times.
Next, the index fingers are placed in the ear canals and rotated 3 times, first in one direction, then in the opposite direction. Upon completion of the manipulations, the fingers are sharply removed from the ears. It is recommended to perform three rounds of exercises in the specified sequence in the morning.
So, decreased or complete loss of hearing is a problem that can have many causes. Only a doctor is able to accurately diagnose, select the correct treatment and protect the patient from the possible complications that this or that pathology can lead to.
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ATTENTION! All information on the site is for informational purposes only and does not claim to be absolutely accurate from a medical point of view. Treatment must be carried out by a qualified doctor. By self-medicating you can harm yourself!
Source: http://superlor.ru/lechenie/chto-delat-uho-ploho-slyshit
The ear does not hear and does not hurt: what to do at home
Every person may encounter a situation where the ear cannot hear. In these cases, you need to know what to do, since the symptom not only causes discomfort, but can also indicate a serious pathology. Most often, these problems arise after ear diseases, but there are many other reasons why hearing is lost. Let's look at them in more detail, as well as what can be done at home.
Causes of disorders and accompanying symptoms
Many people have encountered a problem at least several times in their lives when their ear suddenly became hard of hearing. This does not always mean that you are starting to lose your hearing; the phenomenon can be short-term and go away on its own. But there are situations when a pathological process is evident, so it is necessary to distinguish between them.
Symptoms indicating pathology are:
- the person feels unwell;
- ear aches;
- nausea and other symptoms of intoxication occur;
- headache;
- autophony;
- congestion;
- feeling of a foreign object in the ear canal;
- the ear rings and makes noise.
If a person is only partially deaf, it is not as bad as sudden total deafness. Such manifestations must be treated immediately.
It is important to find out why one or both ears cannot hear so that appropriate measures can be taken to correct the problem. Reasons may include:
- Inflammation. Most often, the ear ceases to hear normally during and after otitis media. The accumulation of exudate, swelling and dysfunction of the Eustachian tube lead to temporary deafness. For some time after otitis media, discomfort and hearing loss persist, especially in children.
- Foreign object. Blocks the ear and prevents sound from passing through.
- Sulfur. Plugs form, which act like earplugs and provoke inflammation.
- Tumor. It disrupts the internal structure of the organ, and after enlargement it blocks its work.
- Water. Once in the ear canal, sound conduction is temporarily impaired.
- Injury. Damage to the eardrum, bruise, traumatic brain injury.
- Changes in intra-ear pressure. The position of the eardrum is distorted and its sensitivity is reduced.
- Neurological disorders. Problems of receptors and nerve endings, damage to the areas of the brain responsible for hearing.
If the ear has difficulty hearing, but does not hurt, the problem may lie in high blood pressure.
The left or right ear or both can stop hearing. It is important to know what to do to get your ears back to normal.
Method for eliminating violations and their diagnosis
What to do at home if one ear has almost no hearing? The solution to this problem depends on the reason that provoked it.
If hearing loss begins to occur after swimming, most likely water has entered the ear. Try shaking it out by tilting your head to the side. To straighten the ear canal, pull the shell back and down. Make a few swallowing movements. Collect the remaining water with a cotton swab, but do not deepen it too much.
When your ear rings and becomes blocked due to pressure changes, you can do special exercises to straighten it out. Cover your ears with your palms, and then sharply pull them back. Afterwards, swallow several times, open your mouth wide, imitate chewing, close your nose and exhale. At least one of these movements will ease your condition.
If we are talking about the consequences of otitis media, then you need to use medications. It is necessary to eliminate inflammation, swelling and accumulation of secretions in the ear. If your ear also hurts, try geranium juice to relieve the discomfort. Drops with propolis and boric alcohol will help. It is recommended to use these remedies only after consulting a doctor, since some substances and procedures are not suitable for this or that type of otitis.
Allergies can also cause hearing problems. Such irritation can cause the development of allergic otitis media. To relieve swelling, antihistamines, antiallergic tablets, creams, and vasoconstrictor nasal drops are used.
A child is often found to have wax plugs or foreign objects in the ears. Since they block the ear canal, they must be removed before they damage the organ. Various methods are used for extraction: tweezers, washing, dissolving sulfur and wax candles. It is best to entrust these manipulations to a specialist.
If your ear is ringing and it becomes difficult to hear, this may be due to exposure to loud noise. To eliminate the consequences of mild acoustic trauma, it is enough to wait a while. If the membrane is damaged, you must go to the hospital.
Mechanical injury is treated for a long time and under the supervision of a doctor. If the ear cannot hear due to a ruptured membrane, the membrane can heal on its own. In case of extensive damage, tympanoplasty is necessary. To prevent it from getting worse, cover your ear with cotton to prevent infection and consult an ENT specialist.
The causes of hearing loss can be more serious and complex: deafness or hearing loss. There are two main types of pathologies:
- Conductive hearing loss. Associated with the outer and middle ear, there is a disruption in the conduction of sound along the functional chain, but most defects can be eliminated with medication or surgery.
- Sensorineural hearing loss. It affects the sensory receptors of the inner ear and the vestibulocochlear nerve, but most of the processes are irreversible and hearing aids are required.
To find out the exact diagnosis, you need to contact an otolaryngologist, audiologist and neurologist. The problem is considered comprehensively. Events such as:
If possible, the doctor will eliminate the cause of hearing loss and tell you what to do and how to treat it in the future. You can often get by with home therapy, but only after a preliminary examination by a doctor and the appointment of a clear treatment program.
Prevention
In order not to encounter the problems described above, it is necessary to do everything possible to eliminate the causes of hearing impairment. The simplest preventive measures are:
- Avoid getting water in your ears. A humid environment promotes the development of inflammation.
- Start treatment for otitis in a timely manner, since the most complications arise after an infectious or allergic disease.
- Avoid injury to the head and the ears themselves.
- Perform proper hygiene procedures. It is important not only to regularly clean your ears of wax, but also to do it correctly so as not to injure it and not lead to the formation of wax plugs.
- Avoid loud sounds and vibrations, as well as prolonged acoustic exposure and pressure changes.
- Limit the use of ototoxic substances to protect nerve endings and sensors.
- Treat runny nose, allergies and other nasopharyngeal problems so that it does not become a chronic disease.
Another important rule is to strengthen your immune system. You should adhere to a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle.
If you still encounter a problem, and the condition does not improve for a long time, it is recommended to consult an ENT specialist for advice.
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The ear is hard of hearing, but it doesn’t hurt – the causes of the disease and how to get rid of it?
Today, more and more people are turning to an otolaryngologist with complaints of hearing loss without obvious pain. There may be several reasons for this, ranging from a common cold to serious damage to the functioning of the brain centers.
Understanding the etiology of the disease and identifying the true origin of the disease can only be done by experienced specialists whom you should visit before starting treatment (ENT, audiologist, neurologist and others).
However, if your ear does not hurt, but also cannot hear, and there is no way to urgently see a doctor, you can try to improve your condition yourself with some home methods described below. Please remember that these are only temporary measures and do not replace professional diagnosis.
Signs of hearing loss
If your ear does not hurt, the following signs may be a reason to contact an audiologist:
- You listen to the whispers;
- The speech of your interlocutors seems unclear to you, reminiscent of muttering;
- It is difficult for you to comprehend a conversation in a noisy environment or when there are a large number of people (for example, in a car, in public places, in class);
- Lately you have been turning up the volume on the radio or TV.
Most people, noticing such behavior, become wary. But if the ear does not hurt, then we often postpone a visit to the doctor, and instead simply adapt to the current situation. But the reasons may be much more serious than we think, and treatment should be started immediately.
Possible causes of hearing loss
There can be many factors that cause hearing loss in adults and children. Most often, the ear does not hurt, but it is difficult to hear for precisely the following reasons:
Self-medication and uncontrolled use of a number of medications.
Thus, hormonal and potent antifungal agents, antibiotics of a number of aminoglycosides and diuretics have a high level of toxicity for the auditory organ. It is their uncontrolled intake that can cause irreversible changes in the auditory part of the ear and, as a result, lead to deafness.
A cerebral hemorrhage or blockage of a blood vessel that directly supplies the inner ear.
Since such changes occur outside the auditory organ, but already in the brain, the person does not feel pain. Of course, you shouldn’t sound the alarm right away, because a cerebral hemorrhage is not a runny nose or indigestion, it just doesn’t happen like that. As a rule, this condition is preceded by injuries and concussions.
Atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels.
This is an age-related disease that develops gradually and is not accompanied by pain in the ear area.
Wax plug in the ear.
The formation and accumulation of wax in the ear clogs the ear canal and prevents sound impulses from reaching the nerve endings.
Fluid entering the ear canal.
After taking a shower or swimming in the pool, there are also often situations when we notice a decrease in hearing in one or both ears. At first there is no pain, but if you do not get rid of the water in the ear canal, this can lead to the onset of an inflammatory process.
A sharp loud sound.
A firecracker exploding near the ear, a gunshot, an explosion, or another powerful sound impulse can have a destructive effect on the sensory cells in the ear and cause temporary deafness. If the eardrum is not damaged, then the ear does not hurt, but it also does not hear.
Ear congestion due to influenza or ARVI.
Due to the anatomical features of our body, hearing loss can be caused by any disease of the nasopharynx, accompanied by swelling of the mucous membrane. So, even with a normal runny nose, ear congestion will interfere with the normal perception of the interlocutor’s speech.
Kidney diseases, meningitis, measles, mumps and other infectious diseases.
Chemotherapy procedures, radiation exposure.
Quite rare provoking factors that are not available to the average person, but they still exist.
In any case, the absence of pain when hearing deteriorates is not a reason to refuse consultation with a specialist. And only with timely access to an ENT specialist and audiologist can one maintain the ability to hear for many years to come.
First aid for ear congestion
If you notice that your hearing has become worse in one or both ears, you need to urgently begin to get rid of this symptom. The types of gymnastics and procedures directly depend on the reason that provoked the appearance of congestion.
Under no circumstances should you try to remove it yourself using sharp objects or cotton swabs. Otherwise, you risk injuring the eardrum or pushing the plug even deeper into the ear canal, thereby worsening your condition.
If it is not possible to seek qualified help, try softening the plug with hydrogen peroxide or preheated olive oil. Place a few drops of one of these products and wait a little while for the wax to melt on its own and flow out of the ear.
Sudden changes in pressure.
People encounter sudden changes in pressure while flying on an airplane, when descending a mountain in a car, or simply in an elevator. To get rid of congestion in this situation, just yawn deeply or swallow several times in a row.
If water gets into your ear while showering and you become hard of hearing, try jumping on one leg with your head tilted to the side. You need to tilt your head in the direction from which you notice congestion: if on the left, then you should jump on your left leg, and vice versa. If this doesn't help, try lying down for a minute with a warm heating pad next to the problem ear.
Ear congestion due to cold.
You can restore your hearing during a runny nose only by getting rid of this unpleasant symptom of ARVI. The most effective method is to rinse the nose with saline or saline solution up to 4-5 times a day. Warm compresses with boric alcohol directly on the ear can also help.
If your ear is suddenly blocked, but it doesn’t hurt.
You can try some simple gymnastics. To do this, make several movements back and forth with your lower jaw, then left and right. Just be careful. Careless gymnastics can lead to dislocation of the mandibular joint, and only a traumatologist can correct it.
If none of the above methods helped restore normal hearing, you should try to see a specialist as soon as possible. It is dangerous to delay visiting a doctor even if pain occurs. After all, the ability to listen to the world around us is one of the values given to us by nature. And any delay can deprive you of this gift.
Source: http://gaimoritus.ru/otit/uho-ne-slishit-no-ne-bolit.html
The ear has stopped hearing: causes and solutions to the problem
Hearing loss, as well as its complete loss, are unpleasant phenomena that a person usually faces in old age. However, young people can also lose this ability due to infections or brain damage. So, if one ear has stopped hearing, do not panic. First you need to determine why this happened, and then consult a doctor.
Many people experience an unpleasant feeling accompanied by noise and a feeling of tension in the ear canal throughout their lives. This happens due to the following factors:
· sulfur plug. It is formed as a result of the accumulation of hardened wax inside the ear. To remove it, you must go to the hospital;
· foreign body. Objects sometimes get into the ear canal and block it, causing hearing loss, pain, and even leakage of pus;
· water in the ear. In the summer, when the swimming season opens, water gets into the ears of those who like to dive, which causes congestion;
Otitis. This inflammation of the external or internal auditory canal is often characterized by pain, fever and congestion of mucus.
Has your ear suddenly stopped hearing? Don't be alarmed. Monitor your condition and, if congestion does not go away, visit a doctor.
During the examination, the otolaryngologist will determine the cause of blocked ears. It is necessary to follow all recommendations given by the doctor. However, if your ear suddenly stops hearing, every person should know what to do and how to help themselves in the first stages of identifying the problem.
1. Propolis tincture with alcohol will help relieve inflammation. Moisten a cotton swab with the solution and carefully insert it into the ear. Wrap your head in a woolen scarf. This will give a warming effect.
2. Drops for the treatment of a runny nose - “sanorin” and “vibrocil” - will relieve symptoms of ear congestion. Pour two or three drops into the nostril and, throwing your head back, wait. The medicine will work soon.
3. When your right ear stops hearing due to water that accidentally got there, jump with your head tilted on the side where you feel congestion. A deep yawn also helps.
Even if your condition improves, contact your doctor to consult with him about further treatment and to prevent possible complications.
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If the ear cannot hear and is noisy: what to do and how to treat it?
Noise at work, at home, participation in public events - all this leads to the ear not hearing what to do, the person does not immediately understand, because he does not notice the gradual decrease in hearing.
The use of outdated equipment or an increase in the power of machines and mechanisms, traffic noise leads to acoustic and mechanical vibrations that affect the hearing organs. Hearing may decrease in 1 or 2 ears, simultaneously or sequentially, completely or partially.
Causes of hearing loss
Not only in Russia, but also abroad, hearing loss is a common phenomenon among young able-bodied people and pensioners. Considering that the cause of hearing loss can be not only diseases of the ear, but also the nervous system, it is difficult to clearly identify the cause. There are 3 mechanisms for the occurrence of deafness:
- Sound-conducting type of disorder - the function of sound conduction is affected.
- Sensorineural variant - auditory perception is impaired.
- Mixed disorder - there are signs of a disorder in the conduction and perception of sound waves.
The conduction of sound suffers in the conductive type, when there are problems in the external auditory canal, middle or inner ear.
The sensorineural form of decline is observed when the ear does not hear due to problems in any part of perception - from the neuroepithelial structures of the inner ear to the cortical analyzer in the temporal lobe of the brain.
These 2 mechanisms are closely interrelated and support each other. Combined hearing loss periodically develops, which is characterized by the appearance of impaired sound perception and sound conduction on the audiogram.
Conductive type of illness
When the auricle is injured or inflammation develops in it, hearing impairment does not occur. Problems in the external auditory canal on one side in the form of cerumen, external otitis, tumor, foreign body lead to the fact that one ear cannot hear.
The external auditory canal is separated from the middle ear by the eardrum. Its perforation occurs after a person cleans the ear with a cotton swab. This defeat is one-sided.
There are many recipes for how to clean your ears yourself using hydrogen peroxide, petroleum jelly, and glycerin. It’s better not to do this yourself, but to consult an ENT doctor once every six months. This will allow you to avoid standing in line for surgery for a perforated eardrum.
When diving or quickly descending into a mine, or a sharp descent of the aircraft, damage to the eardrum and deafness become bilateral.
If the ear has a cold, then damage to the middle ear develops due to an inflammatory process - otitis media. The inflammation begins acutely and can be catarrhal, serous and purulent. With improper treatment, inadequate antibacterial therapy, and reduced immunity, the process develops into a chronic one.
The most significant causative agents of otitis media are:
In children, otitis media is more dangerous than in adults due to the imperfection of the immune system and the danger of infection spreading into the cranial cavity and brain.
For children under 2 years of age with otitis media, antibacterial therapy is always prescribed. At an older age, the issue is resolved individually. Antibacterial therapy is selected by the doctor taking into account the sensitivity of the infectious agent, previous inflammatory and allergic diseases, existing immune system disorders, hypovitaminosis, and dysbacteriosis.
When one ear stops hearing due to otitis media, you should immediately consult a doctor. This may indicate destruction of the eardrum.
Complications of otitis media are:
- mastoiditis;
- meningitis;
- abscess in the brain or cerebellum;
- labyrinthitis;
- sepsis;
- paresis (or paralysis) of the facial nerve, which will lead to facial asymmetry.
The ear may become deaf if cholestaetomas, tumors, otosclerosis have developed in the middle ear, or after a trauma to the temporal bone.
Pathology of the inner ear, which leads to poor hearing in the ear, requires surgical correction.
Diagnostic methods
One ear suddenly became painlessly deaf without purulent discharge or previous otitis media; this most likely indicates complete occlusion of the ear canal.
If the ear suddenly stops hearing after prolonged pain in it, you need to look for an inflammatory disease.
When a person gradually begins to hear poorly in one ear, this sensation is accompanied by pain, one must look for otosclerosis, tumor, cholesteatoma or chronic inflammation.
In 100% of cases you need an ENT doctor.
Sensorineural hearing loss. Back in 1997, the classification of this type of hearing loss was approved. There are 4 degrees of hearing loss, and in 5th place is absolute deafness. Over-the-air audibility is the basis of this classification. Pathology can be congenital or acquired. Each of which can be single- or double-sided.
A sudden decrease in hearing in one or 2 ears, to complete deafness, accompanied by various types of noise, dizziness, unsteadiness of gait, most likely this is a neurosensory lesion. Urgent consultation with a doctor is required. This condition may remain stable, disappear, or progress.
The disease must be differentiated from the following pathology:
- labyrinthopathy, sulfur plug;
- acute intoxication;
- acoustic neuroma, stroke in the vertebrobasilar region, multiple sclerosis;
- metabolic and endocrine pathology - diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, chronic renal failure.
Considering that only an ENT specialist can make a diagnosis, you should immediately contact a doctor. A large number of variants of serious diseases may explain the reasons why this condition developed.
The hearing function for a person is of particular social significance, and it is important to understand that such an unpleasant symptom as hearing loss often ends in disability.
Unilateral hearing loss. Traumatic brain injuries accompanied by a fracture of the temporal bone, with the fracture line passing through the bony labyrinth, lead to unilateral conductive or sensorineural hearing loss. Paralysis of the facial nerve on the side of the fracture also develops. That is, in order for the left ear to stop hearing and the left corner of the mouth to droop after a traumatic brain injury, the left temporal bone must be broken. There may be hidden or obvious external liquorrhea and other intracranial lesions. After a normal concussion, hearing cannot be affected.
Meniere's disease is another reason when one ear has worse hearing. Patients experience waves of stuffiness, noise in the ear, and periodic dizziness. The cause of the disease is unknown. People with mental work suffer more often; young able-bodied people are growing older.
Predisposing factors are considered:
- allergic diseases;
- changes in blood pressure, cerebral atherosclerosis, vegetative-vascular dystonia;
- psycho-emotional stress, irregular nutrition;
- hormonal disorders, pathological course of menopause, diabetes mellitus;
- intoxication with alcohol, nicotine.
When treating this condition, patients are advised to follow a salt-free diet. When there is dizziness, the ear has poor hearing, what can be done to improve the functioning of the vestibular apparatus? In this situation, you should opt for the drug Betahistine, which improves microcirculation and vestibular conduction in the brain stem. One of the neurological drugs that gives good clinical results is Glycine.
Idiopathic hearing loss. If there is a sharp decrease in vision on one side for no more than 3 days without objective reasons, this indicates an emergency situation and the need to see a doctor as quickly as possible.
A feeling of stuffiness in the ear does not mean that a person has a cold. This, rather, indicates an autoimmune process that developed against the background of a latent viral infection and a circulatory disorder. The prognosis for these conditions is unfavorable.
A diagnostic sign of autoimmune hearing loss is the presence of reduced speech recognition. This disease differs from neurological disorders in that the listening person is critical of his condition and adequately assesses his defect.
Acoustic neuroma
A dangerous disease of the brain when the ear is hard of hearing - neuroma of the VIII pair of cranial nerves - a benign tumor of the vestibular part of the auditory nerve from Schwann cells, always one-sided, grows slowly, symptoms develop over a long period of time. First there is noise in the ear, but the hearing is not affected. There are no other symptoms.
This stage indicates that the nerve is still alive and is irritated by the tumor gradually increasing in size. The man says: “I hear the sound of a moving train or falling leaves.” As the tumor grows, hearing begins to decline. A person begins to stop hearing gradually - over 2-3 years.
Symptoms of damage to other parts of the nervous system gradually develop, dizziness develops, unsteadiness of gait, headache, and taste disturbances are observed. This is stage 2, otoneurological, when a person will no longer be able to hear with this ear.
For each of the variants of hearing impairment in the left or right ear, on one or both sides, you must urgently contact an ENT doctor. The doctor will find out the cause and offer a possible variant of the disease, which will allow him to perform optimal examinations, make a correct diagnosis, prescribe treatment in a timely manner and save not only hearing, but also life.
Hearing loss in children
To exclude sensorineural hearing loss in children, an examination is carried out in the first month of life.
Risk groups for hearing loss in children:
- family history;
- intrauterine infections - cytomegalovirus, rubella, herpes;
- anomalies in the structure of the facial and cerebral skull;
- diseases that required the newborn to stay in the intensive care unit for at least 2 days;
- suspicion of behavior for the presence of hearing loss.
To rule out hearing loss and confirm that the child can listen, behavioral, play, or visual reinforcement audiometry is performed on at-risk children. If hearing loss is confirmed, a rehabilitation program for such children is immediately developed.
For both adults and children, the hearing threshold for studying hearing acuity is determined audiometrically. Audiometers are used - electronic devices that record an audiogram.
To determine specific disorders, X-ray studies, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are used.
The development of hearing loss due to age, illness, and occupational pathology is a significant social problem. The degree of hearing loss affects the quality of life, ability to work, and professional suitability.
Regular medical examinations and additional research methods prescribed by your doctor will help eliminate all possible causes of hearing loss. Otorhinolaryngologists and audiologists-otolaryngologists provide assistance to patients with hearing complaints. There is no other way to solve the problem - it is important to seek help from a specialist.
Treatment of hearing loss with folk remedies at home
Causes and treatments for sensorineural hearing loss
Hearing impairment in children: main causes of development, classification and treatment methods
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Source: http://pneumonija.ru/ear/deafness/uxo-ne-slyshit-chto-delat.html
Why can't my ear hear but doesn't hurt?
Some patients, when they come to the doctor, complain of stuffy ears. In medicine, a decrease in hearing function is an increase in hearing thresholds. It is believed that patients may not notice this phenomenon for a long time, since they do not experience pain or any other discomfort.
Causes in children and adults
So why does the ear not hear and not hurt? A gradual and sharp decrease in auditory activity occurs under the influence of several factors. The causes of this process directly depend on the age of the patient.
This situation is often observed in childhood and during pregnancy. Some of the most common causes include mechanical injury to the auricle or diseases that occur in the ears.
Also, the auditory nerve endings can be damaged in the cerebral cortex, as a result of which the patient does not experience any pain. The only thing that can signal a problem is the occurrence of migraines.
If your child’s ear cannot hear, then perhaps the problem lies in:
- Damage to the auditory organs of a newborn during labor.
- In constant oxygen deficiency of the fetus during gestation.
- Taking medications during pregnancy.
- The pregnant woman has bad habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol.
- In diseases of the middle ear.
- The presence of infectious diseases.
- In the accumulation of pus in the middle ear after illness.
If an adult has become hard of hearing, the reasons may be hidden:
- In acute loss of auditory function due to cerebral hemorrhage.
- Uncontrolled use of medications.
- In age-related changes in the body.
- In the accumulation of wax in the ear canal.
- Liquid getting into the ear.
- In a noisy work environment.
- When working with chemicals.
- In the occurrence of atherosclerosis.
If the ear stops hearing during pregnancy, then the reasons are:
- The occurrence of infectious diseases in the form of staphylococcus in the nose.
- Nervous tension or constant stressful situations.
- Hereditary factor.
- Diseases in the ear canal.
- Hormonal changes.
- Use of certain medications.
It is worth noting that during the gestation period, a decrease in hearing function is quite common. No special treatment measures are carried out in this situation. Experts say that the problem disappears by itself after the birth of the baby.
Symptoms of deafness
Progressive deafness never manifests itself as pain in the ears. The main symptom is impaired hearing. At the same time, the patient continues to recognize sounds and speech.
The most severe category of patients includes children. They cannot explain their condition, so often the first signs go unnoticed by their parents. If adults do not notice the presence of hearing problems in time, then the baby’s nervous system development slows down. As a result, speech begins to suffer.
The main symptoms of progressive deafness include:
- Manifestation of tinnitus.
- Difficulty recognizing other people's speech.
- The occurrence of dizziness with a simultaneous disturbance of sound perception.
- Feeling of the repair of your own voice.
- Manifestation of congestion in the ears. This symptom disappears when swallowing saliva or food.
- The onset of nausea or vomiting that occurs simultaneously with an attack of hearing loss.
Diseases affecting hearing loss
If a patient’s ear begins to become clogged, then perhaps the cause is the presence of some kind of disease. Some diseases lead to complications that primarily affect auditory performance.
Diseases that cause complications on the ears include:
Meningitis
This type of disease is quite dangerous, as the infection spreads to the meninges. This process can lead not only to hearing loss, but also to paralysis.
Piggy
It is one of the most dangerous diseases. Occurs in children aged five to fifteen years. The disease is an acute infectious disease that leads to inflammation of the salivary glands. In this case, the patient experiences severe swelling, swelling in the ears and cheeks, as well as pain. Experts say that this disease leads to infertility. But to prevent the development of complications, children are vaccinated.
Rubella
This disease is quite contagious, but is extremely rare. If a woman contracts the disease during pregnancy, this process threatens fetal death or the development of various pathologies. Rubella can also lead to complications such as cataracts of the visual organ, heart disease, blood diseases, deafness and encephalitis. The first symptoms of this disease are similar to a cold. But after a few hours or days, the patient develops red spots all over the body. In addition to all this, inflammation of the joint tissues is observed. To protect themselves from developing rubella, children are vaccinated. Before conception, a woman is also advised to get vaccinated three months before conceiving.
This type of disease affects the ear canal inside the auricle. Occurs as a result of previous colds or flu. In rare cases, no pain is observed, but most often the ear begins to hurt within a few days after the infection. In this case, the ear may be blocked.
Also classified as diseases that cause complications on the ears:
- Presence of tumor formations.
- The occurrence of osteochondrosis.
- Manifestation of stroke.
- The presence of hereditary diseases.
Frequent stressful situations or pressure surges can lead to hearing loss. Often, with such problems, everything returns to its original place. If this condition occurs, the patient can undergo a light massage of the ears.
Other reasons can lead to complications of the hearing organs, such as:
- Head injuries.
- Formation of wax plugs in the ears.
- Brain diseases.
- A foreign object entering the ear.
Treatment process
Many patients ask the question, what to do if the ear does not hear, but does not hurt? In practice, there are several treatment methods, but it all depends on what cause caused the temporary hearing loss.
When it starts to get really bad, in the acute stage the patient is recommended to use hearing aids or cochlear implants. At an early stage of loss of hearing function, drug therapy and physiotherapy are used.
The main methods of restoring auditory activity include:
- The use of special ear drops in the form of Anarin, Otipax.
- Carrying out surgery.
- Electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve.
- Carrying out physiotherapeutic procedures.
- The use of non-traditional methods of treatment in the form of aromatherapy, massage, and the use of herbs.
- Carrying out hygiene procedures.
- Taking medications.
During the gestation period, no treatment is carried out. When taking medications, it is worth considering that many medications have contraindications. The only thing that pregnant women can take is Glycine. It not only calms the nerves, but also leads to blood supply to all organs. This drug restores physical and psychological health.
To restore hearing function in childhood, doctors prescribe medications in the form of:
In this case, taking medications should be combined with a special diet. Experts have found that some products have a beneficial effect on auditory performance. Doctors advise including fish dishes in your diet. This product contains many vitamins and minerals, which helps restore the body's ability to work.
If you have hearing problems, you should stop consuming salt.
Preventive actions
If the patient’s ear cannot hear and does not hurt, then it is worth following several recommendations that will prevent hearing loss. These include:
- Annual examinations with an otolaryngologist.
- Conducting an annual survey. In childhood and the gestation period, such events should be carried out more often.
- Reduced noise level.
- Exclusion of various infectious diseases. If diseases are detected, it is necessary to carry out timely treatment.
- Avoiding moisture penetration into the ear canal. If water gets into your ears, experts advise putting ear plugs in your ears for several hours.
- Timely implementation of hygiene procedures.
- Avoiding loud music. This measure applies to young people who like to listen to music for hours on headphones.
If a person experiences noise stress at work, it is recommended to use special devices in the form of earplugs. You should not ignore the problem, as this will only lead to greater deterioration in your health.
Source: http://lordok.ru/uxo/simptomy/uxo-ne-slyshit-no-ne-bolit.html