| The process of hearing begins when sound waves or | | | | membrane when necessary. This membrane heals |
| vibrations in the air reach the outside of the ear. The | | | | quite quickly after such a surgery. Tympanic |
| ear has three major parts: the external ear, the middle | | | | membranes that are damaged can be repaired with a |
| ear and the inner ear. A sound wave enters through | | | | skin graft. The disease otosclerosis leads to the binding |
| the external part and reaches the middle ear via the | | | | of the icicles to each other. To replace such damaged |
| auditory canal and the tympanic membrane or ear | | | | ossicles artificial parts can be used. |
| drum. The icicles in the middle ear are connected to | | | | Conductive hearing loss is often due to fluid |
| the inner part where the auditory nerve is. This nerve | | | | accumulation in the middle ear, some kind of infection, |
| catches the sound wave and transmits it to the brain | | | | or wax build up in the ear canal. Sometimes, an |
| which helps us to understand the wave as a sound. | | | | accidental entry of a foreign object can also lead to |
| Hearing loss can occur at any of these stages. | | | | hearing loss. Ear wax should be removed with the |
| Generally, a hearing loss is either conductive or | | | | correct instruments and by someone experienced. |
| sensory. Conductive hearing loss occurs due to some | | | | Otherwise, the wax can be pushed deeper into the |
| damage to the external or middle ear. Sound waves | | | | canal. A tumor in the auditory canal can stop most |
| cannot reach the auditory canal through the tympanic | | | | sounds from passing down the canal. If a sharp object |
| membrane and the icicles. Sensory hearing loss takes | | | | gets inserted into the ear it can break the tympanic |
| place in the inner ear and the auditory nerve. Even if | | | | membrane. Damage to the middle ear can be caused |
| the sound waves reach the inner ear, they do not get | | | | by high water pressure due to a deep-sea dive. If |
| transmitted to the brain. A physical examination can | | | | fluids from the throat pass down the Eustachian tube |
| diagnose a hearing loss. | | | | the middle ear gets infected. |
| A doctor can take a look directly into the ear of the | | | | Conductive hearing loss can be prevented if proper |
| patient or use a tuning fork to determine the hearing | | | | care is taken. Throat and upper respiratory tract |
| range of the patient. Audiometer is another device for | | | | infections need to be monitored to stop the spreading |
| detecting loss of hearing. | | | | of infection to the ears. If infection at all occurs in the |
| Sensory hearing loss is a serious problem as it cannot | | | | ears they should be treated immediately. People |
| be cured often. Conductive hearing loss can be | | | | working in a noisy surrounding can use a headgear to |
| treated and hearing restored to a great extent. A | | | | protect the ears from loud noise. |
| blockage in the auditory canal can be removed easily. | | | | Conductive hearing loss is most seen in children. It is |
| Antibiotics can cure infections in the middle ear. The | | | | usually mild in nature and can occur in one or both the |
| middle ear can also be drained through the tympanic | | | | ears. |