Durdans Hospital Audiology Unit advocates early assessment and evaluation of hearing loss
Hearing loss may occur due to aging, loud noises, occupational and recreational noises, infections, ear related diseases and build-up of ear wax; and may affect people to various degrees from mild, moderate to severe. If hearing loss is suspected and then diagnosed at an early age it can aid in increased quality of life.
Dr. Vasanthika S. Thuduvage, Consultant ENT & Head and Neck Surgeon at Durdans Hospital says, “Hearing loss may be a presenting symptom of an underlying medical or surgical condition which may need further investigation and treatment. So, hearing loss should not be ignored”.
Hearing loss affects individuals both physically and psychologically. It also affects speech, communication, and learning abilities, making it difficult for people to participate in normal activities.
Hearing loss can be congenital or acquired later in life. Acquired hearing loss causes are varied and may include recreational exposure to loud sounds such as head phones, excessive exposure to occupational noise, chronic ear infections, head or ear injuries, brain pathologies and collection of fluid in the ear.
Signs of hearing loss include difficulty hearing other people clearly, and misunderstanding what they say, especially in noisy places, asking people to repeat themselves, listening to music or watching television loudly, having to concentrate hard to hear what other people are saying, which can be tiring or stressful.
To diagnose the cause and severity of the hearing loss, tests such as audiometry tests, tuning fork, Oto Acoustic Emission (OAE), and Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR/ASSR) can be used.
People who are with hearing loss, can benefit by wearing instruments such as hearing aids, which enable to overcome hearing disability for an improved quality of life. For those who do not wish to wear conventional hearing aids, technology has enabled individuals to wear hearing aids that are smaller and hardly visible. Children and adults with profound hearing loss, who will not get sufficient improvement with hearing aids, can benefit from cochlear implants. Bone anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA), a device implanted through surgery is generally used by individuals with middle ear problems, congenital ear canal malformations or deafness in one ear. The device transmits sound vibrations directly to the inner ear through the skull, bypassing the external ear and middle ear.
Durdans Hospital Audiology Unit is a comprehensive facility dedicated in the prevention and rehabilitation of hearing loss for all ages through latest techniques and state of the art technology and provides counselling for hearing disorders and auditory disorders. Some of the ear pathologies leading to hearing loss can be corrected by surgical procedures which are available at Durdans Hospital. Contact 011 2 140 221.
