Ears
Your ear is comprised of three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear.
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Hearing Loss
Your ear is comprised of three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. Each part of the ear has a different function. The primary function of the outer ear is to carry sounds to the middle ear. Sound becomes amplified in the middle ear before traveling to the inner ear. The inner ear converts the sound into nerve impulses which are transmitted to the brain so that you may perceive the sound.
Hearing loss occurs when there is loss of sound sensitivity produced by an abnormality anywhere in the auditory system.
There are two basic types of hearing loss:
- CONDUCTIVE HEARING LOSS: The loss of sound sensitivity
produced by abnormalities of the outer and/or middle ear. Conductive hearing
loss can be the result of a wax buildup, a hole in the eardrum, an ear infection,
a hardening of the middle ear bones, or a tumor. Often times, conductive
hearing loss can be reversed with medical treatment.
- SENSORINEURAL HEARING LOSS: The loss of sound sensitivity produced by abnormalities in the inner ear or nerve pathways leading up to the brain. Sensorineural hearing loss, commonly referred to as "nerve deafness" typically occurs as a result of the aging process but can also be the result of repeated, continuous loud noise exposure, certain toxic medications, or an inherited condition. Generally, it is non-reversible.
How do I know if I have a hearing loss?
The following questions may help you determine if you should be evaluated for possible hearing loss:
- Have you experienced difficulty hearing lately?
- Are you sometimes unsure of what others around you have said?
- Do you wish that people around you would speak louder and more distinctly?
- Are you often asking family members and friends to repeat themselves?
- Do you have trouble hearing over the telephone?
- Do you have trouble following conversations in the presence of background noise?
- Do you experience ringing in your ears?
Infants and Young Children
Of course, infants and young children cannot answer the above questions so they must rely on the parents/care giver to detect possible hearing loss. If you have concerns about your child's hearing, ask yourself the following questions:
- Is there a family history of childhood sensorineural hearing loss?
- Does your child have a history of chronic or multiple ear infections?
- Do you have concerns about your child's speech and language development?
- Has your child been exposed to any of the following (particularly while in utero): bacterial meningitis, syphilis, herpes, or CMV?
- Was your child born prematurely and/or weighed less than 3.3 lbs. at birth?
- Has your child been given intravenous antibiotics for any reason?
If you answered "YES" to any of the following questions, your child
should be seen by an ENT physician and receive an audiologic evaluation. With
the diagnostic technology available today, it is possible to detect hearing loss
even in newborns.
Early detection and intervention for hearing loss will decrease the likelihood of speech and hearing delays. A child's normal development of speech and language is largely dependent on the child's ability to hear various sounds and words in order to learn to produce them himself/herself. The first three years of life are the most crucial for appropriate speech and language development. If a child, therefore, is not able to hear during the early years of life when language is developing, it is possible that the child will suffer from developmental difficulties later on.
Our Mission
It is the mission of ENTAA Care to provide high quality, cost effective, specialty medical care to the patients in our communities. We will be a comfort
to our patients, a resource to our referring physicians and a health care advocate for our communities. These ideals will be carried out with the utmost integrity.
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