Hearing Loss

Physical Effects of Hearing Loss 

People suffering from mild to severe hearing loss tend to experience more physical consequences than those with normal hearing or those who use hearing aids. Some of these conditions include tiredness, stress, headaches, vertigo, and so on. 



This occurs because auditory deprivation tends to leave certain nerves and parts of the brain unused, eventually leading to atrophy of the auditory system. The longer a person waits to address their hearing loss, the harder it is to recover their ability to communicate. 

Presbycusis 

Hearing loss isn’t always noise-induced and also occurs due to old age. This condition is called presbycusis. One of the most common signs of presbycusis is bilateral symmetrical hearing loss, which means both ears lose the ability to hear the same tones at essentially the same rate. 



Since there tends to be a gradual change in hearing, it’s not usually noticed at first. Presbycusis starts as early as in your teens and tends to affect your ability to hear high-pitched noises. It only becomes noticeable much later in life, after a lot of cumulative loss.

While it is difficult to pinpoint the exact deterioration of your hearing, an accurate hearing test could reveal if you’re having difficulty hearing specific sounds and provide solutions to aid your hearing. If you or a loved one are finding it increasingly difficult to hear high-pitched tones or sounds that you could once hear, please make an appointment at ENT Medical and Surgical Group. Consult with one of our specialists for a diagnosis and comprehensive treatment plan. 

Surgery for Cholesteatoma

Cholesteatomas are skin-lined cysts that form around the eardrum and invade the middle ear and mastoid (the bone located behind your ear). These cysts tend to grow aggressively and also retain bacteria, leading to frequent infections that don’t leave until the cholesteatoma is removed. 



Cholesteatomas can also cause hearing loss by eating away at the hearing bones (malleus, incus, stapes) that carry sound to the middle ear. In worst-case scenarios, this erosion can allow the spread of infection outside the middle ear, leading to severe conditions like facial nerve paralysis, labyrinthitis, or even meningitis or a brain abscess. Once a cholesteatoma is discovered, it’ll have to be surgically removed

Should You Use Cotton Swabs to Clean Your Ears?

In a word—no. This is because your ear canals are responsible for cleaning themselves. Mostly, through minions of the jaw, like chewing, yawning, and so on. Cleaning your ear with cotton swabs or other objects tends to do more harm than good, leaving your ear canal blocked, itchy, or infection-prone. Other cleaning methods, like ear candles, are also not recommended since they can cause burns and perforations in the ear canal or middle ear. 



Most people tend to resort to the cleaning methods mentioned above due to excessive accumulation of earwax, blocked ear canals, and more. However, it’s a better idea to reach out to our clinic. We can prescribe ear drops or professionally clean your ears. The cleaning method will usually depend on the severity of the situation.