Download Causes of hearing disorders

• The following presentation concerns the 4
types of hearing losses. You will need a set of
speakers or headphones to listen to the audio
lecture concerning certain types of disorders.
The audio lecture begins with slide # 11.
Four types of hearing
disorders
A.Conductive
B.Sensorineural
C.Central
D.Conversion
A. Conductive loss
• Conductive losses occur in either the
outer or middle ear. Generally these
types of disorders interfere with the
conduction of sound vibrations to the
inner ear.
1. Microtia
This is the absence or malformation
of the pinna. It can be either
unilateral (one-sided) or bilateral
(both sides).
2. Auditory canal atresia
The auditory canal is either missing
or extremely narrow.
3. Swimmer’s ear
This is an infection of the auditory
canal. Usually treated with
antibiotic drops.
4. Otitis media
AKA middle ear
infection. Usually
caused when the
Eustachian tube
doesn’t drain the
middle ear well.
For chronic cases
of otitis media
surgery may be
required. Tubes
are placed
through the
tympanic
membrane until
the Eustachian
tube can drain
properly.
5. Otosclerosis
Deposits fuse the
stapes to the
cochlea. Can be
corrected with
surgery. Boneconduction
hearing aids are
sometimes used
to bypass the
ossicles.
B. Sensorineural hearing loss
The second category of hearing loss occurs in
the inner ear and involves nerve damage.
Sensorineural loss is permanent. Other
symptoms may include tinnitus (ringing) or
vertigo (dizziness).
Causes of sensorineural hearing
loss
•
•
•
•
•
•
Genetics- passed down from a parent
Auditory trauma (loud noise)- Ronald Reagan
Head trauma- I. King Jordan
Ototoxic drugs- Heather Whitestone
High fever- Laurent Clerc and Helen Keller
Viral diseases- Marlee Matlin
Other causes of sensorineural loss
• Rubella-virus that attacks the fetus in the
womb.
• Tumors-benign (non cancerous) or malignant
(cancer)
• Usher’s syndrome- genetic condition where
child is born deaf and becomes blind
• Meniere’s disease (hearing loss with vertigo)Coach Nave.
More Sensorineural causes
• Presbycusis- loss from due to age
• Anoxia- “blue baby” lack of oxygen
•Waardenburg syndromepigmentation issues
•Auto-immune-Rush Limbaugh
C. Central loss
This type of
hearing loss
occurs when the
brain doesn’t
interpret sound
correctly. May
involve auditory
hallucinations or
problems with
word recognition.
D. Conversion disorder
This type of loss is a psychological
problem. The patient’s hearing ability is
not physically impaired but the patient
believes he is deaf.