Causes of conductive deafness and how to overcome them

Conductive deafness is a condition when sound cannot enter the inner ear because there are problems in the ear canal, eardrum, or hearing bones in the middle ear. This hearing loss can be caused by several things, ranging from blocked earwax, infections, to tumors in the ear. The process of hearing starts from the capture of sound waves around us by the ear canal. Inside the ear, the sound waves will make the hearing bones in the middle ear vibrate. Then, the vibration then stimulates nerve cells in the inner ear to pass it on to the brain. The process of delivering sound from the ear to the nerves until it can be processed by the brain is what makes the ear can hear. If there is damage or disturbance in the ear, hearing loss will occur. One hearing loss that is quite common is conductive deafness.

Causes of Conductive Deafness

Conductive deafness is a type of deafness that occurs due to hearing loss or connective tissue in the ear, so it cannot deliver sound properly. Apart from interference on both parts, deafness can also be caused by nerve or ear nerve disorders (sensorineural deafness). People with conductive deafness are usually hard to hear soft sounds. While the voice that is louder may be heard softly. This hearing loss most often occurs in children who have recurrent ear infections or who often insert foreign objects into their ear canals. The occurrence of conductive deafness can be caused by several things, including:

• Fluid in the middle ear.
• Middle ear infection (otitis media) or infection of the ear canal (otitis externa).
• Eustachian tube infection that connects the middle ear and nose.
• Hole in the eardrum.
• Tumors that block the middle and outer ears.
• Ear wax that blocks the ear canal.
• Ear deformities due to birth defects, injuries, or surgery on the ear.
• Otosclerosis, a disorder that makes the hearing bones in the middle ear fuse, making it stiff and difficult to deliver sound.

Whatever the cause, deafness that occurs suddenly or is felt more and more increasingly severe is a condition that needs to be examined immediately to the ENT doctor. To determine the cause and severity of conductive deafness, the doctor will perform a physical examination of the ear, as well as supporting examinations, such as hearing tests, CT scans, and ear MRIs.

Handling of Conductive Deafness

Handling of conductive deafness will be adjusted according to the cause and severity of the deaf suffered by the patient. To deal with conductive deafness, the doctor will usually do:

1. Cleaning ear wax

There are several methods for cleaning ear wax. One of them is irrigation of the ear by spraying sterile salt water (saline liquid) or mineral oil into the ear to thin the ear wax. This method can only be done by ENT doctors. If you want to clean your own ears at home, find out more or ask your doctor about safe ear cleaning.

2. Treatment of ear infections

If there is an infection in the outer, middle, or inner ear, the doctor will give antibiotic treatment in the form of ear drops or oral medication. In certain cases, surgery may also be needed if an ear injury or pus buildup occurs in the middle ear which makes the eardrum become inflamed and swollen. This operation can be done to help remove pus from the ear cavity and prevent the eardrum to rupture.

3. Installation of hearing aids

The use of hearing aids are placed behind or in the ear canal. This hearing aid works by converting sound vibrations into electrical impulses to be received by the auditory nerve, so that the hearing process can take place more smoothly. With the hearing aid, sufferers of deaf conductive will be easier to hear certain sounds that were previously difficult to hear. To help determine the aids with and how the settings and how to use them, patients can consult further with the ENT doctor.

4. Installation of cochlear implants

Cochlear implant installation procedures are preferred for sensorineural deaf sufferers. However, cochlear implant surgery can also be performed on people with severe conductive deafness or who are not helped by hearing aids. This operation aims to install aids in the inner ear so that sounds from the outside can be captured by the ear nerve. With this, it is hoped that the hearing process can be helped. If hearing has not functioned at all and other steps have been tried, the conductive deaf sufferer can still communicate in other ways, for example using aids or learning sign language.

How to Prevent Hearing Loss

To reduce the risk of conductive deafness or other hearing loss, you can do the following:

• Do not listen to television, radio, or music with a volume that is too loud.
• Use ear protectors such as headphones, ear muffs, or ear plugs to block sounds that are too loud when working or when in a noisy place.
• Do not put fingers or objects such as cotton buds, cotton, cloth, and tissue in the ear.
• Perform routine hearing checks at least once or twice a year, especially if you are a musician or work in a noisy environment.

Because hearing is so important, keep your ear and hearing organs healthy so they are prevented from conductive deafness or other hearing loss. If you feel the ability to hear is reduced because of conductive deafness, immediately go to an ENT specialist to get the right examination and treatment.