Understanding the Causes of Hearing Loss

Summary

This educational video discusses hearing loss, distinguishing between conductive and sensory neural types. It covers ear anatomy, explains how Weber's and Rinne's tests help diagnose the issue, and outlines potential causes of hearing loss, including age, noise, infections, and medication side effects. The video also suggests that treating hearing loss might reduce dementia risk.

Takeaways

• 👂 There are two main types of hearing loss: conductive and sensorineural.
• 🚫 Conductive hearing loss occurs when there's a problem with sound traveling into the inner ear.
• 👥 Sensorineural hearing loss is due to issues with the sensory system or the vestibular cochlear nerve.
• 🧐 Basic ear anatomy includes the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear, each with specific structures.
• 👵 Hearing loss can present subtly, with patients noticing they miss parts of conversations or seem inattentive.
• 🆘 Sudden onset hearing loss within 72 hours requires immediate assessment.
• 🔊 Associated symptoms like tinnitus, vertigo, pain, or discharge can indicate the cause of hearing loss.
• 🧠 Hearing loss can increase the risk of dementia, but treating it may reduce this risk.
• 🎵 Weber's test differentiates between types of hearing loss by placing a vibrating tuning fork on the forehead.
• 🗨️ Rinne's test compares bone conduction to air conduction using a tuning fork placed on the mastoid and then near the ear.
• 💊 Causes of sensorineural hearing loss include sudden onset, age-related, noise exposure, disease, and certain medications.
• 🌐 Causes of conductive hearing loss range from earwax to infections, fluid buildup, and structural issues like perforated eardrums.

Q & A

What are the two main categories of hearing loss?

The two main categories of hearing loss are conductive hearing loss and sensory neural hearing loss.

How does conductive hearing loss occur?

Conductive hearing loss occurs when there is a problem with sound traveling from the environment into the inner ear, meaning the sound is not reaching the sensory system.

What is sensory neural hearing loss caused by?

Sensory neural hearing loss is caused by a problem with the sensory system or the vestibular cochlear nerve in the inner ear, where the sound is reaching the inner ear but cannot be sensed or transmitted to the brain properly.

What are the three sections of the ear?

The three sections of the ear are the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear.

What is the role of the semicircular canals in the ear?

The semicircular canals are responsible for sensing head movement and are part of the vestibular system.

How can hearing loss present in patients?

Hearing loss may be gradual and insidious, with patients presenting because others have noticed they're not paying attention or missing details of conversations. Sometimes, patients may present with concerns about dementia when the issue is actually hearing loss.

What is sudden onset hearing loss and why is it concerning?

Sudden onset hearing loss is defined as hearing loss over less than 72 hours and requires a thorough assessment to establish the cause.

What are the potential associated symptoms of hearing loss?

Associated symptoms of hearing loss can include tinnitus (ringing sound in the ears), vertigo (sensation that the room is spinning), pain (which may indicate infection), discharge (which may indicate an outer or middle ear infection), and potentially neurological symptoms.

Why are patients with hearing loss more likely to develop dementia?

Patients with hearing loss are more likely to develop dementia, but treating the hearing loss, for example using a hearing aid, may reduce the risk of dementia developing.

What are Weber's and Rinne's tests and what do they test for?

Weber's and Rinne's tests are used to differentiate between sensory neural and conductive hearing loss. They use a tuning fork to assess how sound is perceived through bone conduction versus air conduction.

What does a normal result on Weber's test indicate?

A normal result on Weber's test indicates that the patient hears the sound equally in both ears.

How can you remember which ear is louder in Weber's test for each type of hearing loss?

In sensory neural hearing loss, the sound will be louder in the normal ear, and in conductive hearing loss, the sound will be louder in the affected ear. One memory aid is to picture Spider-Man shooting a web, meaning Weber's test right in the middle of someone's face, which is where you would place the tuning fork.

What is the normal result on Rinne's test?

The normal result on Rinne's test is when the patient can hear the humming sound with bone conduction, then the bone conduction sound stops, and the tuning fork is moved next to the ear, and they can hear the sound again through air conduction.

What are some common causes of sensory neural hearing loss?

Some common causes of sensory neural hearing loss include sudden sensory neural hearing loss, presbycusis (age-related hearing loss), noise exposure, Meniere's disease, labyrinthitis, acoustic neuromas, neurological conditions, infections such as meningitis, and medications.

What are some common causes of conductive hearing loss?

Some common causes of conductive hearing loss include earwax blocking the ear canal, foreign body in the ear canal, infection, fluid in the middle ear (effusion), eustachian tube dysfunction, a perforated tympanic membrane, otosclerosis, a cholesteatoma, exostoses, or benign bone growths, and tumors.