Hearing loss is usually a permanent condition in which the ear becomes less sensitive to sound.

Hearing problems affect virtually every generation. Today’s busy society contends with daily stress and is exposed to various infections that can cause circulatory problems. Circulatory disorders can also have a side effect: accelerated ageing (degenerative changes) of the organ of hearing.

The most common cause of hearing loss is age. Ageing is a natural process in which parts of our ear gradually wear out. Worldwide, the proportion of older people is rising steadily, and they are very often diagnosed with hearing loss.

The second main cause of deteriorating hearing is the noise that surrounds us everywhere in everyday life. For many people, noise is an occupational hazard.

Treating hearing loss in adults

A frequent question is whether hearing loss can be treated. Everything depends on the cause of the problem and the degree of hearing loss. The following treatment methods are used:

  • removal of a foreign body or earwax plug,
  • treatment of infections that damage hearing,
  • removal of growths, where possible,
  • drug therapy, where necessary,
  • use of a correctly fitted hearing aid,
  • implantation of a hearing implant,
  • other surgical procedures.

The method of treatment in Switzerland for hearing loss is tailored to the patient’s needs, based on the cause and the relevant investigations. Treatment is carried out by an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist. Timely diagnosis and treatment are important to keep the condition from worsening.

If hearing loss is caused by damage to the chain of auditory ossicles, this can usually be corrected or improved surgically. When the function of the ossicles is impaired by otosclerosis, the hearing loss can be fully or partly compensated with prostheses.

If the cause of conductive hearing loss (a disorder of the outer or middle ear) cannot be removed, the hearing loss can be compensated by wearing a hearing aid. If the person’s inner ear is still fully intact, treatment with a hearing aid is usually very successful.

In general, people with hearing loss should know that it usually progresses gradually but irreversibly. This makes it all the more important to recognise it in time and treat it accordingly. Untreated hearing loss can lead to further hearing loss and to other symptoms such as tinnitus or dizziness. People with untreated hearing loss also often complain of chronic fatigue.

How is the degree of hearing loss measured?

To determine the degree of hearing loss, an audiometric test is carried out that establishes the threshold level of audible sounds in decibels. The higher the level, the more profound the loss:

  • mild – 20–40 dB
  • moderate – 41–65 dB
  • severe – 65–90 dB
  • profound – 91 dB

The leading clinics in Switzerland diagnose and treat ENT disorders at a very high level.

Causes of hearing loss

  • middle ear infection (otitis media)
  • injury to the ear or head
  • exposure to excessive pressure
  • blockage of the outer ear canal by earwax or a foreign body
  • otosclerosis – a dysfunction of the ossicles, characterised by whistling and ringing in the ears, balance problems, dizziness and muffled speech
  • tumours
  • congenital defects
  • impaired microcirculation in the inner ear caused by embolism or thrombosis
  • viral infections – mumps, influenza, rubella
  • poisoning with toxic substances
  • genetic predisposition
  • use of ototoxic medications

Types of hearing loss

The following types of hearing impairment are distinguished:

  • Conductive hearing loss – damage to the part of the ear responsible for conducting sound, that is, the outer and middle ear. Characteristically, people with this type of hearing loss hear high tones much better.
  • Sensorineural hearing loss – results from disorders of the cochlea, i.e. the inner ear, which is responsible for transmitting the nerve impulse, and from disorders in brain structures. People with this type of hearing loss hear low tones better. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is an emergency. It is an idiopathic condition caused by sudden ischaemia.
  • Mixed hearing loss – characterised by changes in the structures of the outer or middle ear and of the inner ear.

Hearing loss can also be divided into bilateral and unilateral. The first affects both ears; the second affects hearing in one ear.

In addition to the types described above, children can also have central hearing loss.