Causes of hearing problems
Ear problems can affect a person’s ability to hear. A person with ear problems may experience:
- Rasa nyeri
- Loss of hearing
- Discharge from the ear, often due to infection.
However, many ear problems can be treated and the person’s hearing improved or fully restored.
Kiat
After a possible cause of hearing loss has been removed, the person may feel like they can hear properly again. Always confirm the person has healthy ears and continue to do a hearing test to assess their hearing level.
Instruksi
Let’s look at some common causes of hearing problems and how they can be treated or prevented.
Ear wax blocking eardrum
We all have ear wax. It helps protect our ears. As new wax is produced, old wax passes out of the ear naturally. There is no need to clean it out.
Ear wax is usually yellow or brown in colour. Sometimes it may be white and flaky.
It is only when ear wax builds up and blocks the ear canal that it is considered a problem.
Ear wax blocking eardrum
Pertanyaan
Pernyataan manakah tentang kotoran telinga yang benar?
Pilih empat jawaban.
If you selected a, c, d and e, you are correct!
Ear wax is normal. It is only when ear wax builds up and blocks the ear canal that it is removed.
Jawaban b tidak tepat.
Ear wax is normal and will usually pass out of the ear canal by itself.
Meet Pedro
Pedro is 45 years old and works in a government office. He uses an electric wheelchair.
Pedro notices he is not hearing very well when he is on the phone. He decides to clean his ear with a cotton bud.
After a week there is no improvement in his hearing.
Pedro visits his health clinic. The health worker checks his ear health. When looking inside his ear with an otoscope they find that Pedro’s ear is blocked with ear wax.
The health worker does an ear washout. After ear washout, Pedro can hear normally again.
Peringatan
Do not use cotton buds to clean the inside of the ear. Cotton buds may make blocked ear wax worse or hit the eardrum and damage it.
Foreign body in ear
A foreign body in the ear canal is an ear problem.
Insect inside ear canal
Instruksi
You will learn more about how to safely remove ear wax or a foreign body from the ear in Lesson three.
Infeksi telinga
Ear infections are an ear problem. Most infections only need simple treatment.
Signs of ear infections include redness/change of colour and bulging of the eardrum. There may also be discharge from the ear.
Inflamed and bulging eardrum
Discharge in ear
Hole in eardrum
Peringatan
If an ear infection is not treated, a person’s eardrum may burst.
Perkenalkan, ini Garret
Garret is 9 years old and lives in a fishing village. He likes to dive under water with his friends. Garret has had pain and discharge from his ear several times.
Garret’s teacher tells his parents that they have noticed Garret is speaking with a loud voice and may have difficulty with hearing.
Garret visits the health centre with his parents for an ear health screen. The health worker looks inside Garret’s ears with an otoscope. He has holes in his eardrum on both sides.
With his parent’s permission, the health worker refers Garret to an ear and hearing professional.
If a person has signs of an ear infection refer to an ear and hearing professional for assessment and treatment.
Hearing damage
Regular exposure to loud noise can damage hearing.
To avoid hearing loss a person should protect their ears from loud sounds:
- At work
- In the environment
- Through using headphones for long periods of time.
Remember John?
John retired after working in a noisy factory for 34 years. John did not wear ear protection at work.
John is an example of a person who experienced hearing loss due to exposure to loud noise.
Peringatan
If wearing headphones, keep maximum volume below 60%.