Unit 3: Hearing loss

Fill in the blanks:

1. According to the WHO, ______________________ refers to an abnormality in structure or function of the ear.
2. A deformity of the pinna or closure of the ear canal are considered ______________________ malformations.
3. The ______________________ is responsible for both hearing and balance.
4. ______________________ hearing loss occurs due to problems in the external or middle ear.
5. Hearing loss that is present from birth is known as ______________________ hearing loss.
6. Damage to the sensory hair cells or auditory nerve leads to ______________________ hearing loss.
7. ______________________ is the term used for a ringing or buzzing sound in the ears.
8. The first ______________________ of pregnancy are the most critical for the development of the baby’s auditory system.
9. ______________________ refers to the lack of oxygen to a baby during delivery.
10. A combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss is called ______________________ hearing loss.
11. In ______________________ hearing loss, the ability to hear changes over time.
12. ______________________ is a brain infection that can lead to postnatal hearing loss.
13. Adults with ______________________ hearing loss often tend to speak very softly.
14. A ______________________ is a group of symptoms that occur together and indicate a specific condition.
15. ______________________ occurs when the brain cannot properly understand the sounds the ear receives.

Answers:

1. Impairment
2. Congenital
3. Inner ear
4. Conductive
5. Congenital
6. Sensorineural
7. Tinnitus
8. 3 months
9. Birth asphyxia
10. Mixed
11. Fluctuating
12. Meningitis
13. Conductive
14. Syndrome
15. Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)

Tick the correct option:

1. Which part of the ear is affected if a person has sensorineural hearing loss?

a) External ear

b) Middle ear

c) Inner ear

d) Pinna

2. Which of the following is a “Handicap” according to WHO?

a) Damaged Cochlea

b) Inability to hear

c) Difficulty in finding employment

d) Fluid in the ear

3. At what distance can a person with “Moderate” hearing loss understand conversation?

a) 1 foot

b) 3-5 feet

c) 10 feet

d) Any distance

4. Which is a postnatal cause of hearing loss?

a) Rubella

b) X-ray exposure

c) Measles

d) Genetic Inheritance

5. A person who relies primarily on lip-reading likely has which degree of hearing loss?

a) Mild

b) Moderate

c) Moderately Severe

d) Profound

6. What is “Birth Asphyxia”?

a) High fever

b) Lack of oxygen during birth

c) Low birth weight

d) Jaundice

7. Impacted wax in the ear canal causes what type of hearing loss?

a) Conductive

b) Sensorineural

c) Mixed

d) Central

8. Which condition is characterized by a “blocking sensation” and “ear discharge”?

a) Nerve damage

b) APD

c) External/Middle ear Infection

d) Genetic loss

Answers:

1. c) Inner ear
2. c) Difficulty in finding employment
3. b) 3-5 feet
4. c) Measles
5. d) Profound
6. b) Lack of oxygen during birth
7. a) Conductive
8. c) External/Middle ear infection

True or False

1. Individuals with profound hearing loss rely on hearing as their primary channel of communication.
2. Early identification of hearing loss is crucial for language development.
3. Tinnitus is always accompanied by hearing loss.
4. Low birth weight is a postnatal cause of hearing loss.
5. Genetic hearing loss can only occur if both parents are deaf.
6. The external ear consists of the pinna and the ear canal.
7. Adults with sensorineural hearing loss often speak very loudly.
8. Hearing loss is always progressive and gets worse every year.

Answers:

1. False
2. True
3. False
4. False
5. False
6. True
7. True
8. False

Very short answer type questions:

1. Define Hearing loss.
2. What is ‘Impairment’?
3. What is ‘acquired’ hearing loss?
4. What is the primarily effect of hearing loss on a child’s development?
5. What is a ‘foreign body’ in the ear?
6. What is the difference between disability and handicap?
7. What is fluctuating hearing loss?
8. What should you do if you notice signs of hearing loss?

Answers:

1. A partial or complete reduction in the ability to detect or understand sounds.
2. An abnormality in the physical structure or function of the ear/auditory system.
3. Hearing loss that develops at any point after birth.
4. Delay in speech and language communication skills.
5. An external object (like a bead or insect) that gets stuck in the ear canal.
6. Disability is the functional limitation (difficulty hearing), while handicap is the social disadvantage (difficulty getting a job).
7. Hearing ability that changes, getting better or worse at different times.
8. Refer the individual for a professional audiological evaluation.

Short answer type questions

1. Distinguish between Conductive and Sensorineural hearing loss.
2. Explain the impact of hearing loss on an adult’s professional life.
3. List four signs that might suggest a person has hearing loss.
4. How does hearing loss affect a child’s academic performance?
5. Describe ‘Mixed Hearing Loss’.
6. Why is hearing loss called an ‘invisible’ problem?
7. Explain how aging affects hearing.
8. What are ‘associated conditions’ sometimes found with hearing loss?

Answers:

1. Conductive loss involves the outer or middle ear (blockages/damage), often treatable. Sensorineural involves the inner ear or nerve, usually permanent and caused by hair cell damage.
2. It can lead to reduced productivity, increased risk of accidents due to missed warnings, and social withdrawal or frustration in meetings.
3. Asking for frequent repetition, cupping the ear, turning up the TV volume, and not responding when spoken to from behind.
4. Difficulty in understanding instructions leads to delays in reading, writing, and math, resulting in poor school achievement.
5. It is a combination of both conductive and sensorineural types, meaning there are problems in both the outer/middle ear and the inner ear.
6. Because there are no physical deformities or visible signs on a person’s body that show they cannot hear.
7. Aging leads to the natural destruction of hair cells in the cochlea, resulting in gradual sensorineural hearing loss.
8. Conditions like low vision, intellectual disability, or cerebral palsy that may occur alongside hearing loss due to syndromes.

Long answer type questions:

1. Describe the nature of hearing loss and explain the WHO classification of Impairment, Disability, and Handicap.
2. Explain the different degrees of hearing loss and their specific communication challenges.
3. Discuss the various causes of hearing loss categorized by the part of the ear affected.
4. Detail the Non-Genetic causes of hearing loss across the three stages of birth.
5. Compare the effects of hearing loss on children versus adults.
6. Explain the causes and symptoms associated with Inner Ear and Auditory Nerve damage.
7. How do ossicular abnormalities lead to hearing loss? List the types of these abnormalities.

Answers:

1. Hearing loss is the inability to hear sounds properly, varying in severity and type. WHO defines: Impairment: Physical abnormality (e.g., damaged eardrum). Disability: Functional loss (e.g., cannot hear speech). Handicap: Social disadvantage (e.g., cannot participate in a community gathering).
2. Degrees include: Mild: Misses faint speech. Moderate: Needs speech to be within 3-5 feet. Moderately Severe: Needs loud speech; struggles in groups. Severe: Only hears loud voices near the ear; misses consonants. Profound: Relies on visual cues; hearing is not the primary communication mode.
3. External: Deformed pinna, wax, or canal blockage. Middle: Fluid, infected eardrum, or ossicle fractures. Inner/Nerve: Hair cell damage due to noise, aging, or genetic malformations.
4. Prenatal: Maternal infections (Rubella), radiation, or poor nutrition. Perinatal: Lack of oxygen, jaundice, or low birth weight. Postnatal: Childhood diseases (mumps), head injuries, or loud noise exposure.
5. Children face fundamental delays in learning to speak and academic hurdles. Adults face social withdrawal, vocational inefficiency, and psychological stress, though their language is already established.
6. Causes include aging, trauma, ototoxic drugs, and infections. Symptoms often include sensorineural loss, giddiness (balance issues), and tinnitus.
7. The ossicles must move freely to pass sound. Problems include absence of bones, fractures, improper connections, or “fixation” where bones won’t move.