BANGALORE: Hearing loss is caused due various reasons like genetics, aging, exposure to noise, illness, chemicals and physical trauma. Experts say that most people tend to ignore mild hearing loss which can lead to irreversible damage.
Dr Satish Babu K, senior consultant at Apollo Clinics and Apollo Hospitals, department of ENT - head & neck surgery, feels that family members of a person experiencing hearing loss must not take it lightly. He says, "Instead of making fun of them, they should be encouraged to wear hearing aids or the damage could be irreversible."
Doctors feel newborn infants must undergo a hearing test as should people who are exposed to loud sounds as a part of their profession.
Doctors also say that adults above 60 or those showing signs of hearing loss should be screened. Screening should be started earlier if there is a strong family history of early onset of loss of hearing.
Dr Shantanu Tandon, consultant-ENT, Sakra World Hospita says, "Tests can show the stages of deafness. The most common test to check for hearing impairment is Audiometry exam tests."
‘Early detection in kids a must’
Experts say, in cases of children with hearing loss, a hearing aid should be used as early as possible as lack of hearing may affect the general development of language and speech. In adults, a hearing aid should be used early so it does not affect the professional and social life of a person.
"In children, a nerve or sensory cause for deafness can be treated by good quality hearing aids. In cases where the hearing is extremely poor, a cochlear implant surgery maybe performed. Some patients with middle ear problems may also benefit with implantation of special aids called BAHA (Bone Anchored Hearing Aids)," says Dr Shantanu Tondon.
Hearing aids:
There are various varieties of hearing aids available in the market. Nowadays all hearing aids are digital with many additional features like noise filter, feedback filter, bluetooth facility etc. The commonly used ones are the 'behind the ear' variety.
Others include ITC (In the canal), CIC (Completely in the canal) and implantable hearing aids. The choice of the hearing aids is based on the severity of the loss, cosmetic considerations, cost etc. Hearing aids can be scanned before choosing the final product.
The treatment for hearing loss completely depends on the cause. A surgery is carried out only when it is needed.
Yoga comes to aid
Doctors say pranayama and yoga help in better hearing.
Nada yoga practice requires music. A person can relax by tuning into various sounds like sounds of birds. "This technique helps in improving the hearing capability and it is taught in our university," said assistant director, research, at Swamy Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana Yoga University.