Life is full of sounds, from the soft whisper of the wind to melodies that awaken emotions. However, for 360 million people around the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), life is silent. We often take our hearing ability for granted without considering that not everyone shares it. The deafnessor hearing loss, is one of the most common chronic health disorders worldwide.
Hearing loss is the partial loss of hearing ability. This means that a person with hearing loss can still hear sounds, but with difficulty, depending on their intensity and pitch. Miguel Caballero, specialist in otorhinolaryngology at Hospital Clinic Barcelonaexplains: “In the ear resides the sense of hearing that allows us to hear sounds from outside. When there is an inability to hear these sounds, we speak of partial deafness, or hearing loss, and complete deafness in the most serious cases.” Hearing loss can range from a mild loss, where soft sounds are barely noticeable, to a profound loss, where even loud sounds are difficult to hear. It is important not to confuse it with cophosis, which is total hearing loss.
The sense of hearing resides in the ear, allowing us to hear outside sounds. When there is an inability to hear these sounds, we speak of partial deafness, or hearing loss, and complete deafness in the most severe cases.
Listening is a complex process in which sound waves are converted into impulses that the brain interprets as sounds. As Caballero explains, the ear is divided into three parts: the external ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. The outer ear and the middle ear are responsible for transmitting external sound to the inner ear. However, any alteration in these first two parts can cause a loss in sound transmission. This can occur due to causes such as excess wax, a perforation in the eardrum or otitis media. On the other hand, the professional adds, alterations in the inner ear are usually related to aging or acoustic trauma.
The causes of these alterations may be congenital, that is, present from birth or developing shortly after. Congenital causes include infections during pregnancy, such as rubella, or problems such as low birth weight. There are also genetic anomalies that affect ear development. On the other hand, acquired causes arise throughout life and include infections such as meningitis, head injuries, exposure to excessive noise or natural aging.
One of the factors to take into account is exposure to intense noise for a long time. Noise greatly affects the inner ear and can cause deafness over time.
Ignacio Berdejo, audiometry technician at Hospital Clínic Barcelona, points out: “One of the factors to take into account is exposure to intense noise for a long time,” since “noise greatly affects the inner ear and can cause deafness over time.” weather”. For this reason, the specialist emphasizes that “it is important that if we work in noisy environments or frequent places where the noise is very loud, we use earplugs or helmets to protect our ears.”
According to Caballero, “it is estimated that five out of every 1,000 children born have some type of hearing loss,” but many of the causes of hearing loss are preventable. “During their lifetime, one in every 1,000 adults will have a serious hearing problem,” he adds. It stresses the importance of protecting your ears from loud noise, avoiding medications that can damage your ears, eating a diet rich in omega-3s and vitamin A, and staying physically active to prevent hearing problems.
Deafness not only affects communication, but can also have a negative impact on emotional, social and physical health, especially in those with untreated hearing loss. Without a proper diagnosis, people with deafness may experience isolation, frustration, or difficulty maintaining social relationships. Therefore, it is crucial to prevent, detect in time and support those who live with this condition. At the Hospital Clínic Barcelona, the importance of taking care of hearing health is emphasized to avoid future complications.
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