Deafness Awareness Week – Deafness Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment Options

Hearing loss, or deafness, is a common condition that can affect people of all ages—from newborns to the elderly. The good news is that in most cases, it is treatable. Thanks to advances in modern medicine and technology, many people with hearing loss can regain their hearing and improve their quality of life. This article aims to raise awareness about deafness by explaining its causes, how it is diagnosed, and the treatment options available.

How Common is Deafness?

About 1 in 12 people (8% of the population) experience some degree of deafness. Around 1 in 1,000 children are born with significant hearing loss that can affect their speech and language development. If left untreated, these children may grow up with severe communication difficulties. Early diagnosis and treatment within the first few years of life are essential.

What Are the Causes of Deafness?

Hearing loss can be categorized into three main types:

Genetic Causes

Some children are born with hearing loss due to genetic reasons. This is more common in families with a history of hearing problems or consanguineous marriages. A genetic condition called otosclerosis may also cause hearing loss in adulthood by affecting the tiny bones inside the ear.

Acquired Causes

Infections, injuries, or trauma (such as road accidents) can damage parts of the ear and cause hearing loss. Serious infections like meningitis may also lead to permanent hearing problems.

Age-Related Hearing Loss

As people age, particularly after 65, they may lose their ability to hear high-frequency sounds. This is a natural part of aging, similar to needing reading glasses.

Sometimes, hearing loss occurs without a clear cause. One rare condition is sudden sensorineural hearing loss, which results in rapid hearing loss in one ear, possibly due to viral infections or temporary lack of blood flow to the ear.

How is Deafness Diagnosed?

In Adults and Older Children

A Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) test is used to detect the lowest sound a person can hear at different frequencies. It is a simple and reliable method.

In Newborns and Young Children

• Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE): Checks for ear function using a small probe placed in the ear.
• BERA (Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry) and ASSR: These tests assess hearing levels by measuring brain activity in response to sound, typically while the child is asleep or very still.

All these tests are conducted by ENT specialists and audiologists.

How Can Hearing Loss Be Treated?

Medicines and Surgery

• Infections: Treated with antibiotics and decongestants.
• Chronic conditions: Micro ear surgery can repair eardrums or ossicles and prevent disease progression.
• Otosclerosis: Treated via stapedectomy, where a tiny ear bone is replaced by an artificial one.

Hearing Aids

Hearing aids amplify sound and are helpful for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. There are different types:

• Behind-the-ear devices
• In-the-ear canal aids (virtually invisible)

These devices are especially beneficial for elderly individuals or those whose hearing cannot be restored through surgery or medication.
For severe to profound hearing loss, hearing aids may not be effective. In such cases, advanced solutions like Cochlear Implants or BAHA (Bone-Anchored Hearing Aids) may be recommended.