Hearing loss is a gradual, often painless process that can affect people of all ages. Recognizing the early symptoms and seeking prompt care from an ENT specialist is critical to preserving your auditory health.
Types of Hearing Loss
There are two primary categories of hearing loss:
- Conductive Hearing Loss: Occurs when sound waves cannot pass from the outer ear to the middle ear. Common causes include impacted earwax, fluid buildup (common in children), or issues with the tiny middle ear bones.
- Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Results from damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or the auditory nerve. This is typically caused by aging, chronic noise exposure, or genetic factors.
Modern Restorative Interventions
Fortunately, modern ENT medicine offers spectacular micro-surgical procedures to address hearing loss. For example, Tympanoplasty successfully repairs perforated eardrums, while middle ear bone reconstruction (ossiculoplasty) bypasses bony damage to restore vibrant, natural sound conduction directly into the inner ear.
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Published by Dr. Ali Shayyan ENT Specialty Clinic, Lahore