Reasons for Hearing Impairment - Essay Example

Conductive and sensorineural are two major types of hearing loss. Conductive hearing is any impediment to the sound wave transmission via the external and middle ear canal (Morgan, 1999). It can be caused by otosclerosis and damages to the eardrum. Sensorineural, on the other hand, is caused by a defect in the cochlear nerve and cochlea. Hearing impairment for both old and young adults can be contributed by numerous conditions.

They include metabolic disease, ototoxic drugs, neoplasms, hereditary disorders, and infections. However, presbyacusis describe the progressive, insidious, symmetrical, and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss that is linked with increasing age. Changes in the inner structure of the ear are usually contribute to this (Morgan, 1999). If hearing impairment is discovered proper examinations should be done. There are a number of things that a clinician needs to note. For instance, if there is damage on one or both ears, the ingestion of any ototoxic drugs, and the presence of major ear disease symptoms.

It is important to identify affective and dementing disorders because inattention and confusion may be mistaken as evidence for hearing loss.ReferenceMorgan. (1999). Hearing impairment in older people: a review. Postgraduate Medical Journal. Advance online publication. doi:10.1136/pmj.76.899.537