causes of hearing loss and reduction in people of all ages. Many people think of hearing loss as being either something a person is born with or something he or she experiences with old age, but those are far from the only factors that can result in hearing impairment. Whether the person is completely deaf or only has trouble hearing, there are a variety of causes that must be considered and ruled out before a definite determination as to the exact cause of the impairment can be made. Additionally, there are several treatments to be considered. Which one of these is best for the person with the hearing impairment will depend on the cause of that impairment and other factors. Not every option will work for every patient, and doctors must consider numerous issues before making a decision regarding which type of treatment may be the right choice. There are some people with hearing impairment for which no treatment options exist, as well.
Since people lose their hearing for various reasons, there are not always ways to help them regain what they have lost or are losing. If the loss is gradual, they may be able to adjust to the change and the impairment. For a loss that comes on suddenly, adjustment can be more difficult. This paper, then, explores the issues behind various types of hearing loss, in an effort to determine not only why people lose their hearing, but also whether gradual or sudden losses are more significant from a long-term perspective and how valuable different methods of restoring hearing actually are for a large number of people. While all treatments will not work on all people, improvements are being created all the time.
Introduction
When people experience hearing loss, they have either a complete or partial inability to hear (Robinson & Sutton, 1979). There are many reasons why this can occur, and several treatments that can be used in order to allow them to hear again. Whether full hearing can be restored is an important consideration, but sometimes even being able to restore partial hearing is significant for the person with the impairment and enough to help that person resume a more normal life (Kral & O’Donoghue, 2010). The level of impairment is measured in decibels, with a special machine that provides tones for the person to hear. What that person indicates he or she can hear provides the technician with information on the severity of the person’s hearing impairment (Kral & O’Donoghue, 2010). Another consideration is that there are strong opinions in the deaf community when it comes to helping people hear and whether it is always in the person’s best interest. Not everyone thinks that those who are born deaf should be made to hear, for example, especially if it is done through risky surgery or other methods. (Oishi & Schacht, 2011).
The methods used to help people hear have met with limited success. Hearing aids do not restore completely normal hearing, and they can be cumbersome and expensive. There are other methods, but they are not for everyone (Lieu, 2004). Additionally, some hearing loss cannot be reversed or stopped (Lieu, 2004). It depends on the reason for it, and the kinds of treatment to which the person responds. When a person is not able to have his or her hearing restored, it can be a very unfortunate thing. However, many people who are born deaf or who lose all or part of their hearing at a later age are able to live normal lives with a few modifications (Lieu, 2004). While new advances can be explored for those who want to hear again, not everyone is so quick to attempt to get their hearing back.
Causes
Age
Age is one of the main causes for hearing loss. As people age, they are less likely to hear well because of damage that has been done over their lifetime (Kral & O’Donoghue, 2010). High frequencies are often what these people lose first, although some of them have trouble with lower tones, instead (Robinson & Sutton, 1979). The loss of high-frequency hearing is called presbycusis, and actually starts early in adulthood (Lieu, 2004). Generally, people who have this condition do not notice it until much later in life, because it takes until older age for them to notice that they can no longer hear conversations properly (Robinson & Sutton, 1979). By the time they get to that point, they are significantly older (Lieu, 2004). They may at that point assume that their hearing loss is from “old age,” but the groundwork of the impairment was laid much earlier. While it is common, it does vary based on genetics and is not related to noise, disease, or toxins that could impair hearing (Lieu, 2004).
Noise
Nearly half of all cases of hearing loss come from noise, and five percent of people across the globe have some degree of problem with their hearing from noise related factors (Kral Oishi & Schacht, 2011). Fortunately, noise is one of the variables that can be avoided to some degree by most of the population. People who live near airports and freeways are exposed to a high level of noise quite frequently (Lieu, 2004). These people are more at risk of losing their hearing because of the noise to which they are exposed on a daily basis, although noise affects everyone differently (Oishi & Schacht, 2011). Not everyone who lives with a lot of noise in their lives will have their hearing damaged, they are simply at a higher risk of impairment over time (Lieu, 2004). It is important to consider the decibel level of the noise, as well as the duration of it, when calculating risk.
Illness
Diseases can cause hearing loss, especially in children and babies (Kral & O’Donoghue, 2010). Measles and Chlamydia both put people at risk, as do mumps and meningitis (Lieu, 2004). Fetal alcohol syndrome also puts babies at risk for hearing loss, and people who have HIV / AIDS frequently find that they have trouble with their hearing (Lieu, 2004). Being born prematurely, having syphilis, taking chemotherapy drugs, or having a brain tumor can also affect a person’s hearing (Lieu, 2004). While it would logically make sense that disease would or could cause difficulties with numerous parts of the body, including the ears and the ability to hear, many people do not think about illness when they consider hearing loss. Instead, they generally think about genetic issues, noise, or old age as the most important factors in whether a person hears well or has impairment. However, there are many other reasons that have to be considered in order to find proper treatment. Illness is only one of those reasons, but with the number of illnesses that can cause hearing impairment it is well worth considering (Kral & O’Donoghue, 2010; Lieu, 2004).
Genetics
Nearly 75 to 80% of the cases of hearing loss are inherited through recessive genes (Oishi & Schacht, 2011). Another 20 to 25% come about through dominant genes, and the remaining genetic cases of hearing loss are through mitochondrial inheritance or x-linked patterns (Oishi & Schacht, 2011). There are two different forms of deafness that are genetic in nature, and these are syndromic and nonsyndromic (Lieu, 2004). The syndromic version takes place when the genetic markers for hearing impairment are coupled with other medical problems in the individual, while the nonsyndromic version comes from finding only hearing impairment in that individual, absent from other medical problems (Lieu, 2004). Gene mapping is helping to find more information about both forms of deafness, but it is still not possible to determine the exact cause in every case.
Chemicals and Medications
There are medications that will commonly cause damage to the ear which is irreversible, such as cisplatin and similar chemotherapy drugs (Lieu, 2004). For that reason, they are not used unless they have to be, to avoid permanent hearing damage to as many people as possible. There are other medications that can affect hearing, but they have more reversible affects, and these can include aspirin, NSAIDs, and diuretics (Lieu, 2004). Women have to be particularly careful about taking NSAIDs and related medications, because they have a greater chance of hearing loss than men (Lieu, 2004). Medications used for erectile dysfunction can cause hearing loss, as well, which may be permanent (Kral & O’Donoghue, 2010). However, medications, both over the counter and prescription, are not the only concern for people who want to avoid hearing impairment.
Chemicals can also be problematic when people are exposed to them. Solvents, lead, gasoline, crude oil, and automobile exhaust are all possible causes for hearing loss, as are asphyxiants and heavy metals (Lieu, 2004). When a person starts losing his or her hearing due to chemicals it begins with the higher frequencies and is not reversible (Robinson & Sutton, 1979). The cochlea is damaged by lesions, and there are central portions of the auditory system that are degraded (Lieu, 2004). Ototoxic chemicals like styrene can be extremely problematic, making for a higher risk of hearing loss — especially when coupled with noise, such as in factory work (Lieu, 2004).
Trauma
There are two separate ways in which trauma can be a problem for people in the context of hearing loss. One is through direct damage to the ear itself, and the other is from damage to the brain that affects how it processes the sensory input from the ears (Kral & O’Donoghue, 2010). When a person sustains any type of head injury, he or she is very vulnerable to hearing loss. It may be permanent, or it may only be temporary, but it will be likely (Lieu, 2004). Auditory cortex lesions can be a serious problem for hearing impairment, and can result in deafness or other types of problems (Lieu, 2004). Hearing impairment does not necessarily mean a person cannot hear. It could also mean that a person cannot hear properly, in that things may sound garbled, or there may be ringing or another type of noise in the ears that is so loud as to be difficult to overcome (Lieu, 2004). Many of the auditory lesions cause problems that are not deafness, as they would have to be in the right spot and at the correct size to cause a person to go completely deaf.
Neurobiology
There are neurobiological reasons for deafness and other hearing impairments. Either there is something wrong with the actual mechanical workings of the ear, or there is something wrong with the brain in its ability to process the signals it is receiving from the ear (Kral & O’Donoghue, 2010; Lieu, 2004). Sound travels from the ear to the brain, which is a delicate and complex process. The more complex something is, the more opportunity there is for something to go wrong with that process. Such is the case with hearing, as issues can arise along the pathway from the sound coming into the ear all the way until it reaches the particular part of the brain where it is processed (Lieu, 2004). One step depends on the step right before it, so if something goes wrong anywhere along the line, it may not be possible for the sound to continue to the area of the brain where it is needed in order for the person to hear the sound correctly — or at all (Oishi & Schacht, 2011).
Management and Treatment
Hearing Aids
For people who have relatively standard forms of hearing loss, hearing aids can be the best choice. They help the person to hear sounds more loudly, as they magnify what is coming into the ear (Lieu, 2004). However, they will not restore normal hearing to a person who is losing his or her ability to hear. Nothing can do that, unfortunately, although it is possible that new options will come available in the future. Hearing aids work by amplifying sound, so the person wearing them does not have to ask everyone around them to speak up (Lieu, 2004). It can become easier in restaurants and other social settings to hear people, as well, making interactions less awkward for the person with the hearing impairment and for the other people around him or her (Kral & O’Donoghue, 2010).
Assistive Devices
There are a number of assistive devices that can be used by a person who is hearing impaired, in order to handle daily life tasks. One of the most common is the closed captioning system on the television set. This allows a person who has a hearing impairment to read the words that the characters in the TV show are speaking. While closed captioning is not always 100% accurate and can have delays and other glitches, it is a good, useful tool for a person to enjoy his or her favorite shows, watch the news, and keep up with the world around him or her (Oishi & Schacht, 2011). Another important option for hearing impaired people is the telephone system that allows them to see the words the person on the other end of the line is speaking (Lieu, 2004). This is an excellent way for them to be able to converse with others, and can help them lead lives that are more normal than they would otherwise be able to accomplish. Even with email and other methods of communication that do not require hearing, there are still times when a telephone conversation may be needed.
Cochlear Implants
Perhaps one of the most impressive advances in helping people who have a hearing impairment is the cochlear implant (Oishi & Schacht, 2011). These stimulate the cochlear nerve through an electrical impulse, and are permanently implanted through a surgical procedure (Lieu, 2004). There is also a risk for people with these implants to contract bacterial meningitis, so a vaccine is recommended (Oishi & Schacht, 2011). Studies have shown that these implants can be an excellent choice for very young children who have profound hearing loss (Kral & O’Donoghue, 2010; Oishi & Schacht, 2011). When they are treated early, they are often able to develop reasonable hearing and language skills as long as they have rehabilitative therapy to go along with the implant (Oishi & Schacht, 2011). While their hearing will not be “normal,” they can learn to use it well enough that it will make a significant impact in their lives and the lives of their loved ones. These implants can also be helpful for older people who have lost all or part of their hearing.
The Deaf Community
Even though there have been many advances in technology that can reduce or alter hearing impairment, not everyone in the deaf community is enthusiastic about these changes (Kral & O’Donoghue, 2010). Some feel that there is no need to alter a person who is deaf in order to make them hear, while others believe it depends on the desire of the deaf person. Choosing to try to hear again is one thing, but feeling forced to is something else entirely (Lieu, 2004). While this is not always an issue, cochlear implants and other forms of hearing adjustments are commonly pushed on the parents of children who are deaf, instead of simply allowing the children to be deaf. If they have been born deaf they do not know any different, and in many cases their parents are also deaf. If the child is helped to hear, he or she may lose that connection with his or her parents and their circle of others in the deaf community (Kral & O’Donoghue, 2010).
This is a significant issue and is worth considering, especially when the child is very young and really cannot decide for himself or herself as to whether assistance to hear would be the best choice. Additionally, many people in the deaf community are marginalized and made to feel as though they “should” accept any opportunity to be able to hear (Robinson & Sutton, 1979). While it is easy to see that people who hear may feel as though people who cannot hear are missing out on something wonderful, it is important that the deaf person is allowed to be the judge of that. By making deaf people feel as though they are somehow less than or that they need to be “fixed” in order to be “normal” like everyone else, there is a concern that the deaf people will avoid the hearing world as unfriendly. That can keep those in the deaf community who want help from actually getting it.
Conclusion
Overall, deafness is considered a serious impairment by many people and not seen as being that serious by others. It just depends on the person who is asked the question — and often whether that person is deaf. People who were born deaf are not aware of what it would be like to be able to hear, and may not see a lack of hearing as a serious issue. Since they are unable to experience what they are “missing,” they are likely not really missing it. Those who have had hearing in the past and have lost the ability to hear, either well or at all, may feel very much like they are missing out on something. They can remember what they used to experience through hearing, so it is logical that they would miss some of that ability.
For people in that condition who are able to be helped through hearing aids or other means, it is understandable that they would want something done to restore or at least improve their hearing so they could resume what they knew to be a normal life. It is also understandable that older people would want hearing aids so they could continue with independent living. Losing one’s hearing after a lifetime of being used to having it could make it very difficult to function, so hearing aids and other assistive devices for older people are very important for quality of life. With so many things having the potential for causing hearing loss, it is important that hearing aids remain available and other advances in technology continue to move forward so more people can be helped.
References
Kral, A, & O’Donoghue, G.M. (2010). Profound deafness in childhood. New England Journal of Medicine, 363: 1438-50.
Lieu, J.E. (2004). Speech-language and educational consequences of unilateral hearing loss in children. Archives of Otolaryngological Head & Neck Surgery, 130(5): 524-30.
Oishi, N. & Schacht, J. (2011). Emerging treatments for noise-induced hearing loss. Expert opinion on emerging drugs, 16(2): 235 — 45.
Robinson, D.W. & Sutton, G.J. (1979). Age effect in hearing — a comparative analysis of published threshold data. Audiology: Official Organ of the International Society of Audiology 18(4): 320 — 34.
Get Professional Assignment Help Cheaply
Are you busy and do not have time to handle your assignment? Are you scared that your paper will not make the grade? Do you have responsibilities that may hinder you from turning in your assignment on time? Are you tired and can barely handle your assignment? Are your grades inconsistent?
Whichever your reason is, it is valid! You can get professional academic help from our service at affordable rates. We have a team of professional academic writers who can handle all your assignments.
Why Choose Our Academic Writing Service?
- Plagiarism free papers
- Timely delivery
- Any deadline
- Skilled, Experienced Native English Writers
- Subject-relevant academic writer
- Adherence to paper instructions
- Ability to tackle bulk assignments
- Reasonable prices
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Get superb grades consistently
Online Academic Help With Different Subjects
Literature
Students barely have time to read. We got you! Have your literature essay or book review written without having the hassle of reading the book. You can get your literature paper custom-written for you by our literature specialists.
Finance
Do you struggle with finance? No need to torture yourself if finance is not your cup of tea. You can order your finance paper from our academic writing service and get 100% original work from competent finance experts.
Computer science
Computer science is a tough subject. Fortunately, our computer science experts are up to the match. No need to stress and have sleepless nights. Our academic writers will tackle all your computer science assignments and deliver them on time. Let us handle all your python, java, ruby, JavaScript, php , C+ assignments!
Psychology
While psychology may be an interesting subject, you may lack sufficient time to handle your assignments. Don’t despair; by using our academic writing service, you can be assured of perfect grades. Moreover, your grades will be consistent.
Engineering
Engineering is quite a demanding subject. Students face a lot of pressure and barely have enough time to do what they love to do. Our academic writing service got you covered! Our engineering specialists follow the paper instructions and ensure timely delivery of the paper.
Nursing
In the nursing course, you may have difficulties with literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, critical essays, and other assignments. Our nursing assignment writers will offer you professional nursing paper help at low prices.
Sociology
Truth be told, sociology papers can be quite exhausting. Our academic writing service relieves you of fatigue, pressure, and stress. You can relax and have peace of mind as our academic writers handle your sociology assignment.
Business
We take pride in having some of the best business writers in the industry. Our business writers have a lot of experience in the field. They are reliable, and you can be assured of a high-grade paper. They are able to handle business papers of any subject, length, deadline, and difficulty!
Statistics
We boast of having some of the most experienced statistics experts in the industry. Our statistics experts have diverse skills, expertise, and knowledge to handle any kind of assignment. They have access to all kinds of software to get your assignment done.
Law
Writing a law essay may prove to be an insurmountable obstacle, especially when you need to know the peculiarities of the legislative framework. Take advantage of our top-notch law specialists and get superb grades and 100% satisfaction.
What discipline/subjects do you deal in?
We have highlighted some of the most popular subjects we handle above. Those are just a tip of the iceberg. We deal in all academic disciplines since our writers are as diverse. They have been drawn from across all disciplines, and orders are assigned to those writers believed to be the best in the field. In a nutshell, there is no task we cannot handle; all you need to do is place your order with us. As long as your instructions are clear, just trust we shall deliver irrespective of the discipline.
Are your writers competent enough to handle my paper?
Our essay writers are graduates with bachelor's, masters, Ph.D., and doctorate degrees in various subjects. The minimum requirement to be an essay writer with our essay writing service is to have a college degree. All our academic writers have a minimum of two years of academic writing. We have a stringent recruitment process to ensure that we get only the most competent essay writers in the industry. We also ensure that the writers are handsomely compensated for their value. The majority of our writers are native English speakers. As such, the fluency of language and grammar is impeccable.
What if I don’t like the paper?
There is a very low likelihood that you won’t like the paper.
Reasons being:
- When assigning your order, we match the paper’s discipline with the writer’s field/specialization. Since all our writers are graduates, we match the paper’s subject with the field the writer studied. For instance, if it’s a nursing paper, only a nursing graduate and writer will handle it. Furthermore, all our writers have academic writing experience and top-notch research skills.
- We have a quality assurance that reviews the paper before it gets to you. As such, we ensure that you get a paper that meets the required standard and will most definitely make the grade.
In the event that you don’t like your paper:
- The writer will revise the paper up to your pleasing. You have unlimited revisions. You simply need to highlight what specifically you don’t like about the paper, and the writer will make the amendments. The paper will be revised until you are satisfied. Revisions are free of charge
- We will have a different writer write the paper from scratch.
- Last resort, if the above does not work, we will refund your money.
Will the professor find out I didn’t write the paper myself?
Not at all. All papers are written from scratch. There is no way your tutor or instructor will realize that you did not write the paper yourself. In fact, we recommend using our assignment help services for consistent results.
What if the paper is plagiarized?
We check all papers for plagiarism before we submit them. We use powerful plagiarism checking software such as SafeAssign, LopesWrite, and Turnitin. We also upload the plagiarism report so that you can review it. We understand that plagiarism is academic suicide. We would not take the risk of submitting plagiarized work and jeopardize your academic journey. Furthermore, we do not sell or use prewritten papers, and each paper is written from scratch.
When will I get my paper?
You determine when you get the paper by setting the deadline when placing the order. All papers are delivered within the deadline. We are well aware that we operate in a time-sensitive industry. As such, we have laid out strategies to ensure that the client receives the paper on time and they never miss the deadline. We understand that papers that are submitted late have some points deducted. We do not want you to miss any points due to late submission. We work on beating deadlines by huge margins in order to ensure that you have ample time to review the paper before you submit it.
Will anyone find out that I used your services?
We have a privacy and confidentiality policy that guides our work. We NEVER share any customer information with third parties. Noone will ever know that you used our assignment help services. It’s only between you and us. We are bound by our policies to protect the customer’s identity and information. All your information, such as your names, phone number, email, order information, and so on, are protected. We have robust security systems that ensure that your data is protected. Hacking our systems is close to impossible, and it has never happened.
How our Assignment Help Service Works
1. Place an order
You fill all the paper instructions in the order form. Make sure you include all the helpful materials so that our academic writers can deliver the perfect paper. It will also help to eliminate unnecessary revisions.
2. Pay for the order
Proceed to pay for the paper so that it can be assigned to one of our expert academic writers. The paper subject is matched with the writer’s area of specialization.
3. Track the progress
You communicate with the writer and know about the progress of the paper. The client can ask the writer for drafts of the paper. The client can upload extra material and include additional instructions from the lecturer. Receive a paper.
4. Download the paper
The paper is sent to your email and uploaded to your personal account. You also get a plagiarism report attached to your paper.
PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH US TODAY AND GET A PERFECT SCORE!!!
