Definition of Deafness
Deafness is a general term for impairment of hearing function caused by various causes (including organic or functional lesions of the auditory conduction pathway), and is also referred to as hard of hearing when it is mild and significantly affects normal speech communication.
Impact of deafness on human health
Deafness is one of the most important causes of human quality of life. According to the latest published data, the number of hearing impaired people with hearing loss in China has reached 10,000.
Classification of deafness
Deafness can be classified into congenital deafness and acquired deafness according to the time of occurrence of deafness. Deafness can be classified into conduction deafness, sensorineural deafness and mixed deafness according to the mechanism of occurrence of deafness, and into organic deafness and functional deafness according to the presence of organic lesions.
Classification of deafness
Usually, the average hearing threshold of HzHzHz and HzHz is used as the grading standard.
Conductive deafness
Deafness caused by lesions of the outer ear or middle ear transmitting structures such as congenital external middle ear malformation cerumen embolism otitis media tympanic membrane trauma, trauma to the auditory chain otosclerosis middle ear tumor
Sensorineural deafness
The inner ear disorders are called sensorineural deafness or cochlear deafness, such as congenital inner ear malformations, labyrinthitis, Meniere’s disease, sudden deafness, drug-induced deafness, noise deafness, senile deafness, etc. The disorders of the central auditory nerve pathways are called neurological deafness or postcochlear deafness, such as auditory neuroma and other brainstem or auditory center disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, etc. Immune diseases can also cause sensorineural deafness.
Mixed deafness
The presence of both of these causes and the common features of both types of deafness
Diagnosis of deafness
The diagnosis of deafness can be made based on the medical history, ear examination, hearing examination, imaging examination (including CT and MRI) and necessary laboratory tests (such as immunological examination and chromosomal examination).
Treatment of deafness
Different treatment principles should be adopted according to different etiologies.
Treatment of conduction deafness
Local treatment includes removal of cerumen in the external ear canal, removal of tumors in the external ear canal, tympanic membrane repair and reconstruction of the auditory chain through ear microsurgery, etc.
Sensorineural deafness
Usually, conservative treatment including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, medication, immunotherapy and physiotherapy is adopted first. The minimum age for cochlear implantation has been reduced to half a year.
Prevention of deafness
Eugenics Pre-natal check-ups as required for children Timely newborn hearing screening Do not abuse ototoxic drugs such as antibiotics that are toxic to the ear Avoid exposure to all types of noise as much as possible Do not dig your ears at will Elderly people should actively engage in physical fitness exercises to slow down aging.