The causes of deafness?

Aside from aging, hearing loss can be caused by many factors: drug-induced deafness, otospongiosis, acoustic trauma, etc.

Hearing loss due to aging is the main cause of deafness in persons over 50 years. It is called presbycusis and indicates a selective loss of high-pitched frequencies, which are most used for comprehension of speech. In these persons, the hearing loss first translates to a feeling of reduced social interactions.

Presbycusis is the most common form of bilateral deafness. Often, the patient does not realise that isolation is his or her own choice, accusing others of speaking wrong, of not articulating or of ignoring them.

It is time to react! A medical treatment is impossible. A hearing aid is suggested as soon as presbycusis becomes a serious social impediment. According to European and American studies, it is clear that hearing loss without appropriate treatment can cause irreversible damage to hearing. It is recommended to get a hearing aid as soon as possible.

Hearing loss in the inner ear can also be caused by an acoustic trauma or by secondary effects of drugs (ototoxicity).

Hearing loss resulting from an outer ear problem is called conductive hearing loss. There are three types of hearing loss due to the outer ear: an outer ear infection (external otitis), an excess of earwax, or an object obstructing the ear canal.

Hearing loss resulting from a middle ear problem is also called conductive hearing loss. There are three types of principal loss: a viral or bacterial infection of the middle ear, a perforated eardrum caused by an external object or an infection, or an otosclerosis that impedes the stirrup bone’s mobility.