Hearing Disorders: A Case Study

This happens in two ways: listening at too high of a volume, or listening for too long. Studies have confirmed the obvious fact that “the louder the noise and the longer you’re hearing it, the greater the risk of hearing loss” (Siegel). This study concluded that an increasing amount of teens are suffering hearing loss and “wearing earbuds to listen to music may be to blame” (Siegel). The knowledge of loud sounds hurting the ear is well known, but not as many people are aware of the problems caused by listening to music for an extended amount of time. “Constant low-level noise might cause hearing problems, a new study in rats finds” (Cheung). Even music at a low level can damage a listener’s hearing if heard for an extended period of time, but what can losing some hearing really do to a

The ear is an extraordinary human organ that many people take for granted until it doesn’t function. It is the only device that allows the human to hear sounds in their environment. The ear is made up of many parts that distinguish various sounds through different means. The ear anatomy and physiology along with how sound waves are transmitted into meaningful sounds will help one understand how hearing loss occurs.

The condition Colin is likely to be suffering from is Presbycusis. Presbycusis is an age-related hearing loss, it is a hearing disorder that can be caused by a variety of different factors. It is usually a sensorineural hearing disorder but can be a conductive hearing loss. A conductive hearing loss is when it is caused by problems with the ear canal, ear drum, middle ear and the malleus, uncus and stapes this can result in reduced function of the tympanic membrane or reduced function of auditory ossicles. Most commonly it is as a result of changes within the inner ear, middle ear or the nerve pathways to the brain. The cochlea is lined with tiny hair cells; these hairs convert sound vibrations into electrical signals which are received at the brain by a nerve. These cells can become damaged over time this means electrical signals cannot be transmitted as effectively so hearing becomes affected. Long-term exposure to loud noises such as that from traffic and loud equipment which Colin would have been exposed to working as a mechanic can also be a cause of

While speech-sound errors may occur in a typically developing child, if these errors persist beyond the expected age, it becomes indicative of a speech disorder and requires treatment (Peña-Brooks & Hedge, 2015). Speech-sound disorders in children will not only affect intelligibility of the individual, but can also have pervasive effects on communication skills, social involvement, and future employment, leading to an overall reduced quality of life (Johnson, Beitchman, and Brownlie, 2010). However, if individuals with speech-sound disorders receive speech-language services in childhood, evidence supports these children are likely to become effective communicators (Johnson, Beitchman, and Brownlie, 2010). Speech-language pathologists

Mr. Ogren reported the applicant is requesting conditional use approval for a 40-unit condominium townhouse-style development (Eagle Ridge) on a 4.23-acre property. In this C-2 zoning district a maximum of 16 dwelling units per acre are allow; the proposed density is 9.46 dwellings per acre. The development will look like a townhome development with six buildings and each building with six, seven or eight dwelling units attached together. A front and rear yard area is shown for each condominium unit. However, the units will be sold as a condominium. For example, a buyer of a 1,200-square foot two-story condominium

The snail like shape of the cochlear effectively boosts the strength of the vibrations caused by sound, especially for low pitches. When sound waves hit the ear drum, tiny bones in the ear transmit the vibrations to the fluid of the cochlea, where they travel along a tube that winds into a spiral. The tube’s properties gradually change along its length, so the waves grow and then die away, much as an ocean wave travelling towards the shore gets taller and narrower before breaking at the beach.

2). It can be a result of overstimulation of high intensity sounds over a prolonged period or can occur after a single incident, both of which can cause inner ear damage. Acoustic trauma is hearing loss caused by extremely intense sounds such as those related to gunshots or explosions and can affect the middle ear and/or the cochlear structures. (Department of the Army, 2015). Tinnitus is an abnormal perception of a ringing or buzzing in the ear that does not relate to an external stimulus (Schow & Nerbonne, 2103).

There is about 50 million people in America that have Tinnitus. Tinnitus is a nonstop buzzing, hissing or ringing sound in the ears caused from listening to loud noises such as loud music at clubs, concerts or personal headphones. Tinnitus can be temprary or permanent. These sounds can interfere with studying and sleeping and can make teens feel isolated, depressed, or irritated. Tinnitus can affect kids and adults. People who have Tinnitus can have a hard time hearing in crowded rooms as well as realizing they have an increase intolerance for sound. It can be permanently damaging to the inner and outer ear.

Given the patient’s long history of recurrent ear infections, three pressure equalization tubes placement, described right ear deformity, non-tender lymphadenopathy, and hearing loss, the diagnosis is probably chronic otitis media with right secondary acquired cholesteatoma. Nonetheless, it is important to note that the patient does not present other manifestations of cholesteatoma including, painless otorrhea, dizziness, or central nervous system complications (Lazard, Roger, Denoyelle, Chauvin, & Garabédian, 2007).

Increasingly Millennials are starting to experience hearing loss as they grow older. Hearing loss means individuals often can’t make out T’s and K’s. When people listen to music they want to cancel out outside sound however, earbuds don’t cancel out much noise at all. Headphone that either rest on or go around the ear cancel more sound then regular earbuds. Earbud users listen to music at a higher volume to try to cancel out outside sound. This topic is extremely good to inform people because teenagers or adults needs to know that headphones and earbuds are damaging their ears. Listening for an hour with a high volume can permanent ruining your hearing. Virginia Heffernan is not effective at persuading Millennials that headphones are destroying

Your hearing relies on tiny, delicate hair cells within your inner ear that carries energy from sounds to your brain. Loud noises blast and tear these hairs which can cause permanent

Foy of the American Osteopathic Association, common hand-held devices can produce sounds up to 120 decibels, this high level of noise can cause noise-induced hearing loss after only about an hour and 15 minutes of continuous listening. Several experts have stated that the increase of hearing loss among children may be caused the recurrent use of earbuds. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss from earbuds is generally a gradual and cumulative occurrence. There are no obvious signs that indicate the start of hearing loss, however, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders suggests to avoid recurrent loud exposures to sounds at or above 85 decibels as much as possible because these high decibel levels can some form of noise-induced hearing loss (par. 6). The higher the decibel level is, the quicker it takes noise-induced hearing loss to occur. To hear, it relies on a series of events that change the sound waves in the air into electrical signals that get sent to the brain. The ear is split in three “parts” the outer, middle, and inner ear. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders explains how sound waves enter in from the outer ear and travel through the ear canal which eventually leads to the eardrum. The eardrum then begins to vibrate from the sound and sends the vibrations to three minuscule bones in the middle ear, the malleus, incus, and stapes. These three bones in the middle ear transform the air sound waves

When outer hair cells are damaged, compression of cochlea is diminished. The Basilar membrane is broadly tuned and becomes linear in case of total damage to OHC. Because of which, there is a less gain or no gain for low intensity levels. Also, the threshold level elevates from normal threshold level and reduces the dynamic range. In a condition called loudness recruitment, the loudness growth near the threshold is same as normal or other hearing impaired, but abnormally high at the elevated thresholds (Buus & Florentine,2002). This loudness growth observed in hearing impaired is very faster than in normal hearing. This is predominantly seen in permanent sensorineural hearing loss (Oxenham and Plack, 1997 & Nelson et al.2001). The overall effects of damaged outer hair cells are reduced

David A. Schnessel expertise is diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the ear and skull base.

Noise is responsible for hidden and or obvious damages. Hearing loss and tinnitus greatly depend on the level of sound (dB) and duration of sound . Short-duration sound of decent intensity primarily a gunshot or explosion will not be described because they are not currently encountered in our normal urban environment.