Drawing attention to the causes of hearing loss, which occurs when hearing perception decreases or stops completely, Yeditepe University Hospitals ENT specialists warned that "Untreated infections can cause permanent hearing loss".
Stating that hearing loss is seen in two ways, our specialists said, "Transmission type hearing loss concerns the bones in the external ear canal, middle ear, and middle ear. Sensorineural hearing loss occurs in the inner ear," explaining that hearing loss requires an approach according to the region where it occurs and why.
Cochlear Implantation in Advanced Hearing Loss
Yeditepe University Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases specialists provided the following information about the causes of hearing loss:
"In the conduction-type hearing loss, causes such as infections in the external auditory canal, earwax, and bone formation called exostosis to play an active role. However, this problem can also be encountered in diseases such as middle ear infections that cause deformation in the bones in the middle ear, cholesteatoma, middle ear tumors, and chronic otitis media or otosclerosis that causes perforation or thickening of the eardrum. The involvement of the inner ear stands out in the sensorineural hearing loss. This disorder is seen in hearing loss called presbycusis, which is usually seen at an advanced age, in people who work in a constantly noisy environment or those who are exposed to sudden, excessive noise due to explosion and loud music noise, due to autotoxicity due to drug use and in the presence of inner ear tumors."
Stating that among the causes of sensorineural hearing loss, there are also disorders that occur in the neonatal period, experts said, "These disorders can develop due to infections such as TORCH (toxoplasma, rubella, cytomegalovirus or herpes simplex) in prematurity or neonatal period. Genetic diseases can also cause hearing loss."
Patient History is at the Forefront of Diagnosis
The causes of conduction-type communication losses were determined and the specialists who said that they were treated with surgery, medical treatment, or hearing aids said the following about the treatment approach:
"In childhood, this disorder is most often caused by otitis media. In these children, a patient history is first taken to confirm a diagnosis. In addition to pain and hearing loss usually in the ear, families also mention complaints of upper respiratory tract infections such as the sore throat. Pediatric patients may also have allergies, adenoids, and tonsil problems. Audiometry tests measure hearing and tympanometry tests measure pressure in the middle ear. If hearing loss is detected in the child after the examination, drug treatment is applied first. If the infection in the middle ear is not resolved in this way, the patient is kept in follow-up."
Not Every Child Is Intubated
In cases where fluid accumulation is detected in the middle ear, Yeditepe University ENT specialists stated that it is expected to dissolve the fluid with drug treatment first and that there are complaints such as hearing loss, hearing loss, especially not being able to follow the lesson, distraction, turning up the TV too much, not being able to respond when their parents call, or not being able to distinguish speaking in especially noisy environments. Our specialists provided the following information about their treatment approach: "In this case, ear tube treatment is recommended if there is no improvement despite antibiotic treatment, nasal sprays, and suspension-shaped drugs called systemic decongestants.
The specialists reminded each child that ear tubes are not inserted, "Approximately 80 percent of these infections recover with antibiotic and decongestant treatment. However, it should not be forgotten that if children with this condition are not treated correctly, permanent hearing loss may be encountered in the future. Because the discomfort can lead to some permanent changes in the ossicle and membrane structure in the middle ear."
The Ear Needs to Be Protected After the Surgery
After the surgery, the ear tubes were spontaneously thrown into the external ear canal within six months to one year on average, and the specialists said that families often do not notice this and that they can be done to protect the ear after the surgery: "Tubes that do not come out spontaneously in routine checks are taken after two years. After the surgery, the ear should never be watered until the tube completes its task and comes out. Therefore, it is important to put vaseline cotton in the ears of children, especially when bathing, or to use some plugs suitable for the outer ear canal that can be purchased from the pharmacy. If it is a sea holiday, the external ear canal can be completely closed with some apparatus that can be obtained from companies selling hearing aids."
When to Use a Cochlear Implant?
Neonatal hearing tests, which are included in the routine screening program of the Ministry of Health, are carried out in order to detect hearing loss in the neonatal period. The specialists stated that in case of severe loss, hearing aid use was started in the early period and provided the following information:
"Infants with very severe hearing loss before the age of one or two are referred to cochlear implantation surgery. In adult-type hearing loss, hearing instruments can be recommended to patients. Cochlear implants can also be used as a treatment option in adults with severe hearing loss in both ears and who do not benefit from the hearing aid."
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