Hearing loss question for an assignment?
My name is not bruce asked:
I have to write a paper for a class, really short (500 words).
I was given a case study about a guy….basically stated that he started to experience hearing loss at around age 19 to 20…and he’s about 24 or 25 now .
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I have to write a paper for a class, really short (500 words).
I was given a case study about a guy….basically stated that he started to experience hearing loss at around age 19 to 20…and he’s about 24 or 25 now .
He has no symptoms besides hearing loss
Anyways, one of the questions i have to address is…..give 2 possible reasons for his hearing loss.
1 reason i thought of was noise induced hearing loss.
Having trouble thinking of a second reason.
I ruled out a buildup of earwax or other ailments, because in 5 years, they would have been spotted and cleared up. Also the case study doesn’t mention previous sicknesses or anything. So i have to assume he didn’t have any sort of ear infection.
I thought of a few hereditary causes…ones that hit in the teens… but they all have symptoms that don’t fit the situation.
Any help would be great
Oh and i’m not saying it is NOT hereditary.
Just i couldn’t find a hereditary disease that fit the situation.
January 11th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
What about something neurological? His ear might be physically perfectly well, yet something might not be well-wired to the brain.. there are many neurological syndromes that cause loss of senses. Karim
January 15th, 2010 at 1:47 am
Decent link is
I experienced noise-induced hearing loss - went to too many rock concerts. But in my case, it took 20 years.
Ironically, I have hearing loss in my left ear right now - ear infection has caused swelling of the ear canal closing it off. But you’re right that this is NOT going to be a problem for more than a week or two, at worst. dryheatdave
January 16th, 2010 at 5:20 am
Osteosclerosis is a growth of bone on the bones of the middle ear (incus, stapes, and malleus). The growths themselves slowly immobilize the bones thus slowing and eventually stopping the ability to transmit sound.
Meniere’s disease affects the inner ear and causes deafness, but it often carries with it vertigo and tinnitis (ringing in the ear) so you may not want to use that.
Acoustic neromas grow in the vestibulococchlear nerve (the one that transmits sound to your brain). They tend to cause deafness and may not have other symptoms at first.
Ototoxicity can also cause hearing loss. This is due to medications that can cause damage to the nerves and render someone deaf. Examples of such include some antibiotics like streptomycin, salicyates like aspirin, some diuretics like lasix, and some chemotherapy treatments (names fail me here).
Trauma such as fracture of the temporal bone or a punctured eardrum can cause deafness.
Earwax can cause deafness if it builds up enough. This is, obviously, easily treated.
I can’t remember the name, but there are benign tumors that can grow to the point that they block the ear canal and thus block sound.
As far as my source, growing up visiting many an ear doctor’s office and playing with ear models. Life long hearing impairment. jade_calliope