HEARING DESEASES MAGAZINE BY DAHIAN RAMIREZ & TEMY MORENO
Meniere's Disease Is a disorder of the inner ear that causes episodes in which you feel as if you're spinning (vertigo), and you have fluctuating hearing loss with a progressive, ultimately permanent loss of hearing, ringing in the ear (tinnitus), and sometimes a feeling of fullness or pressure in your ear. In most cases, Meniere's disease affects only one ear.
Meniere's disease can occur at any age, but it usually starts between the ages of 20 and 50. It's considered a chronic condition, but various treatments can help relieve symptoms and minimize the long-term impact on your life.
causes The cause of Meniere's disease isn't understood. One popular theory that hasn't been proved is that Meniere's disease appears to be the result of the abnormal amount of fluid (endolymph) in the inner ear. This often shows on autopsies, but it's not clear that it causes the episodes.
prevention No cure exists for Meniere's disease, but a number of treatments can help reduce the severity and frequency of vertigo episodes. There are no treatments for the hearing loss that occurs with Meniere's disease. All of the treatments — some conservative, some aggressive — are to stop the spells of vertigo.
Tinnitus • is the perception of noise or ringing in the ears. A common problem, tinnitus affects about 1 in 5 people. Tinnitus isn't a condition itself — it's a symptom of an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, ear injury or a circulatory system disorder.
causes It can be caused by ear problems in your outer, middle or inner ear. It also can be caused by problems with the hearing (auditory) nerves or the part of your brain that interprets nerve signals as sound (auditory pathways).
prevention Avoid the noise altogether. Not always as easy as it seems. However, if noisy pubs or clubs, or some other recreational activity is causing enough trouble then this may be the only realistic choice. Reduce the time of exposure. This is often an easier and more realistic option. This can either be done by physically spending less time in the noisy environment.
Otosclerosis Is the buildup of spongy or bone-like tissue in the middle ear that prevents the ossicles, namely the stapes in the middle ear, from working properly. The impaired movement and function reduces the sound that actually reaches the ear. Otosclerosis usually results in conductive hearing loss, a hearing loss caused by a problem in the outer or middle ear.
If the buildup of tissue spreads to the inner ear, it is called Cochlear Otosclerosis. This can cause permanent sensorineural hearing impairment due to interference with how the nerves in this part of the ear work.
causes Scientists aren’t sure about the exact cause but there is some research suggesting a relationship between otosclerosis and the hormonal changes associated with pregnancy and also with viruses.
prevention Treatment for people who are diagnosed with otosclerosis depends on the extent of hearing loss and may include surgery to replace some or all of the ossicles with artificial ones. It is important to discuss the risks and possible complications of this and any procedure, as well as the benefits, with a doctor and a surgeon.
Cancer Cancers of the ear can develop inside the ear too, but these are very rare. There are different types of cancers (carcinomas and melanomas) that can affect the ear. Most ear cancers are squamous cell carcinoma on the outer ear, but basal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma can also occur inside the ear.
Symptoms: a scabbed area of skin that is jagged and irregular with crusting and oozing—usually on the upper edge of the outer part of the ear. This area may be present for many years and may or may not be associated with a swelling or lump in the neck.
causes Long periods of time in the sun
prevention Excessive exposure to the sun should be avoided to avoid skin cancers. If unavoidable, a sunscreen that provides adequate protection may be used. White-skinned individuals should undergo regular checkups for suspicious lesions since they are more prone to certain skin cancers. Any lesion that is hard, grows very fast, changes in character quickly, and does not heal easily should be investigated.
Otitis Media Infections of the middle ear are one of the most common reasons for children to see a doctor. Three out of 4 children experience ear infection (otitis media) by the time they are 3 years old. Children are more likely to have ear infections like otitis media that come from bacteria or viruses than adults because of their developing ear anatomy.
The middle ear is connected to the back of the nose by the auditory tube (also called the eustachian tube) and its location allows easier access to germs. This may lead to a buildup of fluid and pressure, painful infections, and even hearing loss. Infections in children can affect early speech and language development.
causes The otitis media can be due to a bacteria or can be chronic disease and can affect adults, too.
prevention Epidemiologic associations suggest that primary prevention or reduction of AOM frequency may be achieved with breastfeeding during infancy, elimination of household tobacco smoking, and use of small rather than large day-care arrangements for infants and toddlers. Secondary antimicrobial prophylaxis with amoxicillin or sulfisoxazole reduces the frequency of recurrent AOM by about 50%, but it does not appear to reduce the duration of otitis media with effusion (OME).
www.nidcd.nih.gov www.mayoclinic.org www.earq.com www.medindia.net www.mayoclinic.org
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