Hearing occurs when sound waves reach the structures inside our ears, where the sound wave vibrations are converted into nerves that our brain recognizes as sounds. There are three parts that make up an ear: outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. Sound waves pass through the outer ear and cause vibrations on the eardrums. The eardrums and the small bones of the middle ear amplify the vibrations as they travel to the inner ear. From there, the vibrations pass through the fluid in a snail-shaped structure in the inner ear called the cochlea. Attached to the nerve cells in the cochlea are thousands of tiny hairs that help translate sound vibrations into electrical signals that are transmitted into the brain.
Signs and symptoms of hearing loss may include:
- muffling of speech and other sounds
- difficulty understanding words, especially against background noise or in a crowd of people
- trouble hearing consonants
- frequently asking others to speak more slowly,clearly, and loudly
- needing to turn up the volume of the television or radio
- withdrawal from conversations
- avoidance of some social settings
Some of the causes of hearing loss may include:
- damage to the inner ear due to aging and exposure to loud noise
- ear infections or build up of ear wax
- ruptured eardrum resulting from exposure to loud noises or changes in pressure
- side effects of medication
- certain illness such as heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes
- trauma (eg. skull fracture or punctured eardrums)
Treatment options include:
(depending on severity and cause)
- removing wax blockage
- surgical procedures (small tubes that help the ears drain)
- hearing aids which amplify the sounds and direct them into your canal
- cochlear implants which compensate for damaged and nonworking parts of the inner ear
Strategies for communication include:
- making sure you face the person if they are reading your lips
- speaking clearly with good diction and pronunciation (not speaking more loudly)
- using written communication if you are having trouble communicating
- using captioned videos in the classroom
An understanding of the symptoms, causes, and treatments can allow a person with hearing loss to enjoy a greater quality of life. By using effective strategies for communication, people with hearing loss can gain better access to post-secondary education.
