Hearing Disorders Health Article

SENSORY HEARING LOSS

Generally, sensory hearing loss is less amenable to surgery and treatment, and is better dealt with through prevention. The most common cause of sensory loss is presbycusis—hearing loss associated with aging. Treatment consists of hearing aids, or "amplification."

Noise-associated hearing loss is usually preventable. Noise damage may be part of the hearing loss associated with aging. Earplugs and hearing protection in the workplace helps to prevent some hearing loss, but loud music, concerts, sporting events, and power tools and machinery used in the home also adds to the damage. Hearing protection should be used in all of these cases.

Other causes of sensory hearing loss include multiple sclerosis, tumors of the nerves, congenital deafness associated with infection, or genetic abnormalities and toxins. A tumor on the auditory nerve, known as acoustic neuroma, may be surgically removed, but depending on the position and size of the tumor, hearing may not improve. Toxic effects of drugs such as aspirin, certain antibiotics, and some cancer treatments can lead to hearing loss, and can be avoided by careful monitoring of the dosage. Sudden sensory hearing loss has many causes including viral illness, diabetes, and Meniere's syndrome.

KAREN L. HALL

(SEE ALSO: Hearing Protection; Occupational Safety and Health)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Beers, M. H., and Berkow, R., eds. (1999). The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 17th edition. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Company.

Nelson, W. E., ed. (1996). Textbook of Pediatrics. Philadelphia, PA: W. B. Saunders Company.

Taylor, R. B. (1998). Family Medicine Principles and Practice. New York: Springer-Verlag.

Turkington, C., and Sussman, A. (2000). Living with Hearing Loss. New York: Checkmark Books.