Hearing Loss Among Adults
Chou R, Dana T, Bougatsos C, et al.; (2011), Screening for Hearing Loss in Adults Ages 50 Years and Older: A Review of the Evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (U.S.); Report No.: 11-05153-EF-1
Among adults, hearing loss can be hereditary or acquired from aging related illnesses. Research has shown that loss of hearing among adults may occur as a result of ototoxic drugs, tumors, accidental head injuries and natural occurring aging process. The hearing loss may be through absolute numbness in the years or through ringing in the years ("Tinnitus"). Loss of hearing is through damage to the inner ear, ear infection, buildup of earwax, or a ruptured eardrum.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communicative Disorders (2011), Ten Ways to Recognize Hearing Loss. Available online: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/pages/10ways.aspx. and, Yuch B, Shpiro N, Maclean CH, Shekelle PG. (2003), Screening and management of adult hearing loss in primary care: Scientific Review. JAMA: 289(15):1976-1985
Generally, the above causes of hearing among adults are classified into two broad categories conductive and sensorineural. Conductive comprise of all the physical obstruction that obscure movement of sound waves. Sensorineural hearing loss results from damaged hair and nerve cells that attract...
Hearing loss among adults is either gradual or sudden with the symptoms varying from individual and dependent on the cause. The extent of hearing loss may also range from complete deafness, partial, or difficulty in hearing a conversation.
Bagardus St., Yeah B, Shekelle PG. (2003), Screaning and management of adult hearing loss in primary care: clinic Application JAMA; 289(15):1986-1990 and Rosenfeld RM. Brown L., Cannon CR, et al. (2006), Clinical practice guideline: acute otitis externa. Otolarygol Head Neck Surg. 2006; 134
Gradual hearing loss may be partial loss of hearing that manifests itself through a feeling of fullness in the ear and earaches. This would be an indication of earwax or blood clot blockage or other forms of blockage to the sound passage. Other forms of gradual hearing loss manifest through symptoms such as ringing in one ear, nausea, and dizziness. These symptoms are an indication of a tumor. For some patients loss of hearing may occur in one ear serving to indicate an acoustic neuroma. The most serious and dangerous symptom under the gradual category of hearing loss is the feeling of fluid in the ear, accompanied by cold symptoms or fever and flu. The symptoms are a possible indication of otitis media that is more likely to yield complete hearing loss.
Mitchell P, Gopinath B, McMahon CM, Rochtchina E, Wang JJ, Boyages SC, Leeder…
