Inner ear hearing loss is also called sensorineural hearing loss which is typically caused by a problem in the inner ear. In most cases, hearing loss is due to damage to the tiny hair cells that move sound through the ear. However, there are other reasons that you could have inner ear hearing loss.
The symptoms of inner ear hearing loss are:
This kind of hearing loss is caused by damage to the tiny hair cells, which are the nerve endings, in the inner ear. These hairs transfer sound into electrical signals that are carried to the brain. When the inner ear is damaged in this way, the hearing signals are not travelling to the brain correctly. There are various reasons that this kind of inner ear damage could happen:
Diagnosis of inner ear hearing loss involves a physical exam by a doctor to see if there are physical causes for the hearing loss or an ear infection or wax plug that is causing the problem. If there are physical problems that need to be addressed, surgery might be recommended. Antibiotics can usually treat ear infections reliably, and wax plugs can be removed at the doctor’s office as well.
Identification of the specific kind of hearing loss is made through the use of a tuning fork and screening tests. Patients will usually also need to take an audiometer test which helps identify the specific tones and sounds that are not being heard correctly by the patient.
Prevention of hearing loss is possible in many cases if you protect your ears while you are being exposed to loud sounds. You should wear ear protection at concerts or when working using tools that make a lot of noise. Those who work in factory locations should also wear ear protection. Avoid activities that might cause physical damage to the head or the ears, like wrestling, or hunting. You can also stop smoking and drinking if you want to protect your hearing.
Treatment of hearing loss of this kind can involve surgery if there are tumours, malformations of the inner ear, or prolonged infection of the inner ear. Earwax can be removed through a simple process in a doctor’s office, and ear infections can usually be treated with oral antibiotics. Hearing aids and cochlear implants can help restore a patient’s hearing when these other treatment methods are not an option or are not successful.
If the inner ear problem that the patient is experiencing also involves symptoms like dizziness or nausea, medications can be prescribed that can help manage these symptoms. Physical therapy can sometimes also help to manage these kinds of daily difficulties, which can be associated with inner ear problems.