Head of Department of ENT, Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine Prof. Dr. Armağan İncesulu stated that one out of every three people over the age of 75 suffers from hearing loss. In the age range of 45-54, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart diseases can be triggers in hearing loss that occurs in one out of every 10 people, as well as infection and calcification that affect ear health.
Stating that the genetic inheritance we carry has a role in hearing loss in adults as in other diseases, Prof. Dr. Armağan İncesulu pointed out that environmental factors play a very important role in shaping this heritage. Stating that the infections in the outer, middle and inner ear, which were more common in the past years, decreased with vaccination, early access to the physician and better care, İncesulu said that it is still common and results in hearing loss. Providing information about the causes of hearing loss, İncesulu continued as follows: “Calcification in the ossicles in the middle ear also causes moderate hearing loss. Changes in the external auditory canal, eardrum, middle ear and inner ear structures resulting from biological aging can also result in hearing loss. In this hearing loss, which develops due to age and is called presbycusis, the hair cells responsible for hearing in the inner ear are destroyed, and age-related changes develop in other structures in the corti organ responsible for hearing. Unfortunately, it is not possible to regenerate these structures, and diabetes, high blood pressure or heart diseases, which are frequently seen in the elderly, can also affect the inner ear and facilitate the occurrence of hearing loss. In addition to these reasons, the use of drugs harmful to the inner ear, exposure to high noise due to entertainment or work, and blows to the head can cause hearing loss, ”he said.
Attention to elders of family watching TV loudly
The loudness of the television or radio, the patient repeating the words frequently during the conversation, collectively sohbet The patient's relatives and the people they live with are complaints that the person with hearing loss is involved in the conversation at an inappropriate time or with a subject other than the subject being discussed, or is not heard when talking from another room in the house. Less communication can lead to problems such as social isolation, decrease in school or work performance, difficulty in adapting to new subjects and learning, and a decrease in self-confidence in the patient. Studies show that the time between the onset of patients' complaints and their active application for treatment options can take up to 10 years. The perception of hearing loss and hearing aids as signs of old age, negative experiences of the environment related to the use of hearing aids play a role in this. While individuals are isolated from their work life, social relationships, and family relationships, cognitive functions deteriorate, learning and adaptation to new conditions become increasingly difficult. Patients behave timidly about what they could do individually and become dependent on their relatives. As a result, depression is more common in individuals who feel useless or disabled than the normal population, and lack of communication, one of the basic activities of being human, facilitates the emergence of neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer's.
It is important to use hearing aid or implant solutions depending on the degree and type of loss.
Stating that if the degree of hearing loss is mild-moderate, the hearing aid is a good option. Dr. Armağan İncesulu stated that in cases where hearing loss is severe and profound, or in individuals who have a problem of distinguishing sounds, the benefit to be obtained from a conventional hearing aid will be limited. İncesulu continued as follows: “It would be appropriate to evaluate these patients for a cochlear implant. Cochlear implants electrically stimulate the structures in the inner ear and enable patients to hear, unlike hearing aids that provide acoustic stimulation, but unfortunately, hearing loss is a silent and invisible obstacle in our country, so it is often neglected and seeking help is delayed. It is also very important to raise social awareness on this issue. Because the state has covered the cost of implantation with social security and is within the scope of reimbursement. "We focus on awareness activities to convey this information to our citizens more."
The ears of young people who listen to loud music are at risk
Stating that listening to loud music, the noise in the working environments or the noise in daily life directly affect the inner ear, İncesulu said, “Since these effects are not noticed in the youth period, the precaution is also delayed, whereas hearing loss due to noise is definitely a preventable problem”.
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