COPING WITH LOSS: Overnight, or over decades, hearing loss is common problem

From: Today's News-Herald, AZ - Apr 29, 2003

Famed radio personality Rush Limbaugh was understandably surprised when he discovered he had sudden sensorineural hearing loss. That scientific term means that his hearing disappeared over the course of a few hours or days; the loss is permanent.

The condition is treated as a medical emergency when it occurs. There are numerous treatments available for hearing loss, even sudden loss like Limbaugh's.

And there a reason for the ever-increasing remedies for hearing problems: Some 28 million Americans suffer from some form of hearing loss. Nearly half of people with hearing loss problems are under the age of 65. In the 65 and older age group, hearing loss is the third more common chronic condition, after arthritis and high blood pressure, according to local audiologist Shea Becker. A quarter of people over age 65 have hearing loss. But, people from all walks of life, from newborns to seniors, are affected by hearing loss. Tom Nash, owner of Miracle Ear, sees many people affected by hearing loss. Each person undergoes a hearing test before receiving treatment, which usually takes the form of a custom-made hearing aid. He does, however, send a number of referrals to doctors.

Nash said the average age of people he treats is 55 or 60. Unless the problem is medical, such as nerve loss, there is no cure. At Miracle Ear, the staff's goal is to "restore hearing skills through amplification," Nash said. They use up-to-date technology, which Nash says changes almost yearly. Becker is a licensed audiologist at Arizona Coast Ear, Nose and Throat. According to Becker, there are three kinds of hearing loss. The first, sensorineural, affects the inner ear or cochlea, and is almost always permanent. It can be caused by genetics, noise damage, aging, and in rare cases, extremely strong antibiotics, which are only given as a form of treatment for serious, chronic illness.

Hearing aids are typically used as treatment for sensorineural loss, although on some occasions, surgery is recommended. Sudden sensorineural loss - like that suffered by Limbaugh - is a fairly rare condition, while gradual sensorineural loss is a relatively common type of hearing loss. The second type of hearing loss is conductive, which means that sounds are not conducted efficiently through the ear canal, eardrum or middle ear. This is often temporary hearing loss, and can be treated with surgery or antibiotics. The third kind of hearing loss is mixed, a combination of the other two forms. This is treated according to the individual's specific needs. There is another hearing condition called "tinnitus," which manifests itself as a fluctuating ringing, roaring or buzzing in the ears. The severity of tinnitus varies in individuals, and while there is no known cure, there are recommended therapies for sufferers. The condition is exacerbated by stress, salt, caffeine and alcohol intake, some medications such as aspirin or some anti-depressants, and overall health. Tinnitus can be helped through relaxation and exercise, among other things. The American Tinnitus Association can provide resources for people who suffer from tinnitus. Most hearing loss is due to a lifetime of noise damage.

Tiny hairs on the cochlea allow sounds to be transmitted to the brain; Becker likens the effect of noise damage to wearing a path in grass. "If you keep walking over it in the same way, you're going to wear a path," she said. Since those tiny hairs can't be regrown, all adults experience some hearing loss as they get older. In this way, temporary noise damage becomes permanent. People who pursue certain professions or hobbies are more at risk for noise damage. For example, riding motorcycles leads to noise damage, both from the sound of the bike and from the wind rushing by. Mechanics are at risk because of the noise levels they experience in the shop. Musicians, as a group, have started using hearing protection more often when onstage.

People in at-risk groups should get their hearing tested regularly, as should people over the age of 65. People who get dizzy spells should get their hearing checked, because balance is controlled in the ear and dizziness may be a symptom of a hearing-related illness. Hearing tests are also recommended for people who think they have better hearing in one ear than the other, or whose hearing has changed over a short period of time. Oftentimes age-related hearing loss is so gradual that one might not notice it. When performing a hearing test, the first thing Becker does is an otoscopy, which means she looks in the ear at the part that can be seen, and makes sure everything looks normal.

Next, she does a tympanogram, where she tests the eardrum to see how well it moves. Typically, the eardrum is neutral between the ear canal and middle ear; pressure or fluid on either side causes the eardrum to lose movement. According to Becker, temporary hearing loss may be treated with antibiotics or surgery. The most common form of surgery is the insertion of a pressure equalization tube into the eardrum. The tiny tube regulates pressure in the middle ear, and helps keep fluid out. Another form of surgery, by far less common, is a cochlear implant. This surgery requires rigorous testing of patients before the FDA recommends it, because it is an invasive surgery. Adults may have one or both cochleas implanted. This is only used in cases of severe, permanent hearing loss, when benefits cannot be derived from hearing aids. By far the most common form of treatment for permanent hearing loss is the use of one or two hearing aids. This is treated according to the individual's specific needs. There is another hearing condition called "tinnitus," which manifests itself as a fluctuating ringing, roaring or buzzing in the ears. The severity of tinnitus varies in individuals, and while there is no known cure, there are recommended therapies for sufferers. The condition is exacerbated by stress, salt, caffeine and alcohol intake, some medications such as aspirin or some anti-depressants, and overall health. Tinnitus can be helped through relaxation and exercise, among other things. The American Tinnitus Association can provide resources for people who suffer from tinnitus. Most hearing loss is due to a lifetime of noise damage.

Tiny hairs on the cochlea allow sounds to be transmitted to the brain; Becker likens the effect of noise damage to wearing a path in grass. "If you keep walking over it in the same way, you're going to wear a path," she said. Since those tiny hairs can't be regrown, all adults experience some hearing loss as they get older. In this way, temporary noise damage becomes permanent. People who pursue certain professions or hobbies are more at risk for noise damage. For example, riding motorcycles leads to noise damage, both from the sound of the bike and from the wind rushing by. Mechanics are at risk because of the noise levels they experience in the shop. Musicians, as a group, have started using hearing protection more often when onstage.

People in at-risk groups should get their hearing tested regularly, as should people over the age of 65. People who get dizzy spells should get their hearing checked, because balance is controlled in the ear and dizziness may be a symptom of a hearing-related illness. Hearing tests are also recommended for people who think they have better hearing in one ear than the other, or whose hearing has changed over a short period of time. Oftentimes age-related hearing loss is so gradual that one might not notice it. When performing a hearing test, the first thing Becker does is an otoscopy, which means she looks in the ear at the part that can be seen, and makes sure everything looks normal.

Next, she does a tympanogram, where she tests the eardrum to see how well it moves. Typically, the eardrum is neutral between the ear canal and middle ear; pressure or fluid on either side causes the eardrum to lose movement. According to Becker, temporary hearing loss may be treated with antibiotics or surgery. The most common form of surgery is the insertion of a pressure equalization tube into the eardrum. The tiny tube regulates pressure in the middle ear, and helps keep fluid out. Another form of surgery, by far less common, is a cochlear implant. This surgery requires rigorous testing of patients before the FDA recommends it, because it is an invasive surgery. Adults may have one or both cochleas implanted. This is only used in cases of severe, permanent hearing loss, when benefits cannot be derived from hearing aids. By far the most common form of treatment for permanent hearing loss is the use of one or two hearing aids.

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