Chronic sensorineural hearing loss 1st degree treatment. Sensorineural hearing loss: how to stop hearing loss. Degrees of pathological condition

Sensorineural hearing loss is a general hearing loss that occurs as a result of impaired sound perception, which is possible with diseases of the auditory center of the brain, damage to the auditory nerve or inner ear. According to medical statistics, more than 500 million people in the world suffer from hearing loss. Almost 80% of them suffer from sensorineural hearing loss.

At the same time, today there is a tendency towards an increase in the incidence of this disease, among which both bilateral and unilateral sensorineural hearing loss is noted.

Main causes of the disease

Sensorineural hearing loss is polyetiological disease. In other words, the causes of this disease can be quite diverse. First of all, these are infectious agents, especially viral ones. For example, influenza, the virus of which can affect nerves and blood vessels, syphilis, brucellosis, adenoviral infection, etc.

Also an important cause of the disease is vascular pathology, which leads to disturbances in blood circulation in the cerebral veins and arteries, in particular those that supply the auditory analyzer. This happens with aneurysms, vegetative-vascular dystonia, hypertension, etc.

Bilateral sensorineural hearing loss can occur under the toxic influence of industrial and household poisons, alcohol or medications. The latter primarily include aminoglycoside antibiotics (Kanamycin, Monomycin, etc.) as well as streptomycins, which have a pathological effect on the spiral part of the ear.

Traumatic incidents also play a role in the development of hearing loss, which can be caused by:

with a sharp fluctuation in atmospheric pressure;
when exposed to strong sound;
for traumatic brain injuries;
during operations on the middle ear.

In children, sensorineural hearing loss may result from hereditary diseases or birth defects. In old age in adults, this pathology appears due to involutional changes in the auditory analyzer.

Autoimmune and allergic diseases can cause sensorineural autoimmune hearing loss, during which the process is limited by the blood-labyrinthine barrier.

The disease can be provoked by occupational hazards, as well as tumors of the brain and middle ear. And, in the end, there may be a combination of all the factors described above.

Types of bilateral chronic sensorineural hearing loss

Today known four types sensorineural hearing loss and several subtypes of this disease: acquired and congenital degrees of hearing loss are distinguished. In this case, the latter is divided into non-syndromic and syndromic.

Non-syndromic type In addition to hearing loss, the disease is not accompanied by any other symptoms or pathologies of other systems that are inherited. This type of disease accounts for approximately 75-85% of all cases of congenital or early hearing loss.

The remaining 15-25% is taken syndromic form this disease, in which there are different symptoms or other diseases. For example, Pendred syndrome includes hearing impairment along with thyroid dysfunction.

Chronic acquired bilateral sensorineural hearing loss appears as a result of chronic forms of otitis or due to other reasons described above.

In addition to the listed varieties of the disease, there are also post- and prelingual types the described pathological condition. The postlingual form develops after speech formation, and the prelingual form - before.

Degrees of sensorineural hearing loss

At the first stage sensorineural hearing loss is expressed by a hearing level of 25-40 dB and is the mildest stage of the disease. Moreover, a sick person clearly hears spoken speech at a distance of no more than 6 meters, and can understand a whisper only when located in the area of 3 meters near its source. The presence of extraneous noise will significantly reduce the perception process.

If the patient can understand a person’s speech at a distance of up to 4 meters, and can perceive a whisper at a distance of no more than one meter, then sensorineural hearing loss is noted second stage. Difficulties with perception in this variant of the disease may appear in the patient even in a normal environment. This can often be noticed based on the patient's requests to repeat certain poorly heard phrases or words. The threshold for sound perception at this stage of the disease is located at the level of 40-55 dB.

If the patient cannot understand whispered speech at all, but understands the conversation at a distance of only one meter, then sensorineural hearing loss is considered 3 degrees, while the sound threshold is 55-70 dB. This type of disease creates a significant obstacle to communication and is a severe stage.

With subsequent progression of the disease, the auditory function decreases so much that a person can perceive normal speech only at a distance of less than 20 cm from the source. Moreover, the threshold for sound perception is 70-90 dB, this almost corresponds to deafness, when there is no reaction to a sound greater than 90 dB.

In other words, sensorineural hearing loss is fourth stage– This is the most severe of all stages of this disease.

Symptoms of the disease

In patients who have sensorineural hearing loss, as a rule, the symptoms are reduced to disruption of the hearing aid and the appearance of either subsiding or increasing tinnitus for no reason. The first is expressed by high frequency and constant presence and is therefore compared mainly with a whistle, ringing or squeaking. As the disease progresses, the above manifestations are supplemented by dizziness and vestibular disorders.

In medical practice it is noted three options for the development of this disease:

One of the outcomes of this disease is disability due to hearing loss. Taking into account this fact, you need to be very careful about the diagnosis and timely treatment of this disease.

Diagnosis of the disease

Diagnosis includes an integrated approach, which requires examination of all auditory departments using various instrumental methods. To begin with, the patient is examined by an ENT specialist to rule out various diseases of the outer ear - which include inflammation, the presence of a foreign object, cerumen, etc.

Then it is sure to execute pure tone threshold audiometry And tuning fork test. To determine what type of hearing loss the patient has, the condition of the middle ear and acoustic reflexes are diagnosed. Diagnosis is performed using impedancemetry. Based on these data, it is determined what exactly is disturbed in the auditory mechanism: the state of sound perception, the state of sound conduction, and the auditory nerve are assessed.

To clarify the areas of damage to the auditory analyzers, auditory evoked potentials are recorded. This examination makes it possible to assess the condition of the auditory nerve.

Thus, bilateral or unilateral hearing loss is determined based on the following data:

tuning fork test data;
results of examination by an ENT doctor;
otoacoustic emission data;
results of threshold pure-tone audiometry.

Sensorineural hearing loss: treatment of the disease

The main task, which involves the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss, is to reduce oxygen starvation of tissues and improve blood circulation in the hearing organs.

This can be achieved through the use of so-called “nootropics”, which have a pronounced neuroprotective effect. These are medications such as Cinnarizine And Piracetam. These drugs have an antihypoxic effect, help improve the protective properties of nerve cells and increase blood flow in the brain and hearing organs.

Since the speed of initiation of treatment is important during this illness, these medications, as a rule, are started to be used intravenously, with dosages quickly increased in the first days of treatment.

When a patient’s symptoms include vomiting, nausea, and dizziness, this indicates damage to the labyrinth, a structure that is responsible for the position in space of the body. In this case, it is advisable to use antihistamines (for example, Betaserk). These products improve microcirculation of the inner ear, plus they reduce endolymph pressure.

Methods for treating acute forms of the disease

In addition to drug treatment, in patients diagnosed with acute sensorineural hearing loss, therapy always includes non-drug methods that can improve the effectiveness of drug treatment. In particular, it showed itself quite well reflexology, performed in the form laser puncture or acupuncture. These procedures are most often prescribed after intensive therapy with the means described above.

Showed excellent results and hyperbaric oxygen therapy– a procedure during which the patient inhales an air mixture with a high amount of oxygen. This mixture is supplied to a person under pressure. Under these conditions, the oxygen that penetrates the blood creates an additional healing effect in relation to microcirculation.

Otosurgery and hearing aids in the treatment of disease

The methods of help described above are not always effective. If a person diagnosed with this disease at the first stage can be treated successfully with physiotherapeutic methods and medications, then as the degree of the disease progresses, the prognosis regarding its cure worsens significantly.

For example, bilateral chronic sensorineural hearing loss is difficult to treat with medications, and hearing rehabilitation in these patients is possible through the use of hearing aids. Modern devices of the latest generations are quite sensitive and small in size, which reduces the embarrassment and anxiety of patients regarding their use.

Sometimes, due to the latest advances in otosurgery, hearing aids can be abandoned. Cochlear implantation can be performed instead of these devices. But it will be effective only for those people who have a dysfunction of the organ of Corti. When the auditory nerve is not damaged, then special electrodes can be implanted into the inner ear to directly stimulate this nerve. Due to this, hearing can be restored to a large extent.

To prevent progression of the disease due to loss of time, treatment of hearing loss must begin as early as possible and only under the supervision of an experienced specialist. If everything is done correctly, then hearing will be restored over time, or at least its subsequent decline will be slowed down.

Bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, or inflammation on only one side, is becoming more common. Many patients complain of acute or gradual hearing loss, in which patients experience a lot of unpleasant symptoms. The right thing to do when the first factors of the disease arise is to contact an otolaryngologist.

A specialist will use a series of tests and studies to determine the nature of the disease and its type. Only after this will we talk about hearing treatment. If the inflammation appeared recently, and the patient consulted a specialist with the first factors, a favorable outcome occurs. We will consider further how to cure hearing loss in more dangerous situations.

To consolidate the effect and improve hearing at the end of the course of treatment, it is necessary to undergo physical procedures. They will restore neurological processes and allow the body to relax.

If you have developed third or fourth degree hearing loss, the doctor prescribes medication, which only precedes surgery. Then ear prosthetics or implants are used.

If such methods are ineffective and the doctor does not see the need for surgery, the patient is prescribed hearing aids. In such a situation, the patient is sent see a hearing specialist for advice and help in choosing a hearing device.

Conclusion

Many people use alternative medicine methods for hearing loss. Remember that they can only reduce symptoms, but traditional medicine cannot completely cure and restore hearing.

You shouldn't risk your health, so seek professional help.

Remember, the earlier your inflammation is diagnosed, the easier and possibly cheaper your treatment will be, so don't ignore signs of illness.

Sensorineural hearing loss of the 1st degree - treatment of this pathology is best started immediately after its appearance. This is the only way to cope with the disease. However, sometimes, even timely and correct treatment does not help to completely restore hearing.

What is sensorineural hearing loss?

Sensorineural (sound-perceiving, perceptual, sensorineural) hearing loss is a disorder of the auditory system from the sound-perceiving receptors located in the inner ear to the auditory zone of the cerebral cortex. This is the most common type of hearing loss.

Depending on the level of pathology, it is divided into peripheral (the most common type is damage at the receptor level), retrocochlear (damage to the auditory nerve) and central (damage at the level of the brain). Sensorineural hearing loss can be unilateral or bilateral. According to the course, sudden, acute, subacute and chronic hearing loss are distinguished.

Degree of sensorineural hearing loss determined by the speech hearing threshold. There are 4 degrees of hearing aid damage and complete deafness:

sensorineural hearing loss of the 1st degree - the patient hears whispering at a distance of 3 m and loud spoken speech at a distance of 6 m;
sensorineural hearing loss 2 degrees - whispering at a distance of 1 m and loud spoken speech at a distance of 4 m;
sensorineural hearing loss of the 3rd degree - cannot hear a whisper or loud conversational speech at a distance of 1 m;
sensorineural hearing loss grade 4 - hears loud spoken speech spoken next to the ear;
Complete deafness – the patient cannot hear sounds.

Causes of sensorineural hearing loss

The reasons may be different, most often they are mixed. The cause of sudden and acute hearing loss, which develops over several hours or days, is most often infection, mechanical and acoustic injuries, severe sudden stress, acute vascular disorders due to atherosclerosis or high blood pressure.

Subacute and chronic sensorineural hearing loss develops over several weeks or months. This occurs against the background of intoxication (occupational hazards, alcohol abuse, frequent smoking), taking ototoxic drugs (for example, antibiotics from the group of aminoglycosides - Monomycin, Kanamycin, Neomycin), autoimmune processes (allergies to the body’s own tissues), prolonged exposure to noise, chronic disorders cerebral circulation and so on.

How is sensorineural hearing loss treated?

It is necessary to begin treating any type of hearing loss as early as possible, before irreversible changes occur in the hearing aid. The optimal period of time is several days after the first signs of hearing loss appear. It is equally important to establish and eliminate the cause of the development of sensorineural hearing loss.

Treatment of sensorineural hearing loss is carried out in a hospital. A protective regime is prescribed: the patient is advised to avoid any loud sounds: singing, music, speech. Conservative treatment is effective for stages 1-2 of sudden or acute sensorineural hearing loss.

Drug therapy includes:

Hyperbaric oxygenation courses are effective - inhalation of an air mixture with a high oxygen content, which is supplied under pressure. This helps improve blood microcirculation and activate metabolic processes in tissues.

Hearing loss is partial or complete loss of hearing. About 10% of the planet's inhabitants suffer from this pathology, and the main cause of its occurrence is the high level of environmental noise. This disease has several types and one of them is sensorineural hearing loss. It can occur in people of different age groups, but most often develops in older people.

About pathology

Sensorineural hearing loss is a non-infectious ear disease in which there is damage to the auditory nerve and, accordingly, a deterioration in sound perception. There are two types of sensorineural hearing loss: bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (both ears are affected) and unilateral (one ear is affected).

The disease occurs in the following forms:

Acute (duration – up to a month). The disease in this form responds well to treatment (the effectiveness of therapy is from 70 to 90%).
Subacute (duration – up to three months). The effectiveness of therapy ranges from 30 to 70%.
Chronic (duration more than three months). Difficult to treat.

In addition to acute, subacute and chronic sensorineural hearing loss, there is also a sudden form of hearing loss. It is characterized by a rapid course, but if you start therapy in a timely manner, you can stop this process and get rid of the disease as soon as possible.

Acute sensorineural hearing loss first manifests itself as a feeling of fullness in the ears. This phenomenon may disappear or appear again. Next, tinnitus occurs, which increases to a permanent hearing loss. Such symptoms should not be ignored, since if the disease passes from an acute to a chronic form, the likelihood of a successful treatment outcome is lost.

An audiogram helps determine the severity of hearing impairment and, based on its results, several stages of development of hearing loss are distinguished:

I degree.

With sensorineural hearing loss of 1 degree, the hearing threshold ranges from 26 to 40 dB. A person can clearly hear speech at a distance of approximately 6 m, but surrounding (extraneous) sounds in this case significantly impair the perception process.

II degree.

Gradual deterioration of hearing leads to the development of 2nd degree hearing loss. It is characterized by the ability to hear spoken speech at a distance of no more than 4 meters, and whispering - 1 m. The hearing threshold is from 41 to 55 dB.

III degree

The inability to normally perceive speech spoken in a whisper characterizes the process of development of the 3rd degree of sensorineural hearing loss. Hearing threshold – from 56 to 70 dB.

IV degree.

The absence of perception of spoken speech at a distance of less than 25 cm from the source indicates the development of the 4th degree of sensorineural hearing loss. Hearing threshold – from 70 to 90 dB. By the way, the hearing threshold corresponding to deafness is above 90 dB.

Causes and symptoms

Only a specialist can determine the cause of this disease in a particular case. But the main factors contributing to the development of this pathology are known.

The main factors causing sensorineural hearing loss are:

acoustic or mechanical trauma;
taking certain ototoxic medications;
previously suffered viral and bacterial infectious diseases (measles, scarlet fever, herpes, influenza, etc.);
pathologies (pathological conditions) of an inflammatory nature (meningitis, etc.);
vascular pathologies (atherosclerosis, stroke, hypertension);
age-related degenerative changes in the body.

The following symptoms indicate that you need to see a doctor immediately:

to understand what the interlocutor is talking about, you have to watch his lips;
difficulties arise in perceiving the speech of several interlocutors;
there is a feeling that the interlocutor is speaking in a whisper;
when watching TV there is a need to increase the volume;
it is difficult to perceive information expressed by the interlocutor over the phone;
there is a desire to constantly ask the interlocutor about what was said;
difficulties arise in the perception of the spoken information by the interlocutor standing behind.

If the above symptoms occur, you should seek advice from an otolaryngologist (hearing problems are dealt with by specialists in the field of medicine such as otolaryngology).

Diagnostics

To confirm the diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss and prescribe therapy, the patient may need the help of specialists such as a therapist, otolaryngologist and audiologist.

To identify the disease, a number of diagnostic measures are required:

hearing studies (tone threshold, speech and computer audiometry);
tuning fork tests (Weber, Schwabach and Rinne tests);
acoustic impedance measurement (a diagnostic measure that includes a set of procedures: different methods (three) of hearing research, which are prescribed if it is necessary to study the condition of the ear canal and middle ear);
vestibulometry (a group of diagnostic studies that helps evaluate the functioning of the vestibular apparatus).

According to indications, the following may also be prescribed:

chest x-ray,
X-ray of the SHOP,
radiography of the temporal bones according to Schüller;
CT, MRI of the brain, etc.

These diagnostic measures are prescribed to clarify the diagnosis and exclude other types of hearing loss.

Sensory-neural hearing loss should be differentiated from other pathologies with similar manifestations:

Meniere's disease (disease of the inner ear, manifested by attacks of spinning vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss);
labyrinthine fistula (internal fistula of the tympanic cavity, connecting it with the inner ear, often with the lateral semicircular canal);
Acoustic neuroma (a benign tumor that develops from nerve cells and, accordingly, grows on the nerve), etc.

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the attending physician prescribes therapy, which may consist of conservative methods and alternative medicine methods.

Treatment

Sensorineural hearing loss of degrees 1, 2, and 3 must be treated using certain groups of medications (drug treatment):

nootropics (prescribed to stimulate neurometabolic processes);
detoxifiers;
medications that improve the rheological properties (indicators) of blood;
drugs that help eliminate swelling;
drugs to improve blood circulation;
hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs;
vitamin complexes;
histamine mimetics (prescribed when vertigo occurs).

The selection of medications should be carried out exclusively by the attending physician. Under no circumstances should you self-medicate.

In addition to drug treatment, physiotherapeutic procedures may also be prescribed to restore hearing:

electrical stimulation (due to this procedure, the auditory nerve is affected through primary irritation of receptor zones and corresponding biologically active points);
UHF (used to treat ENT organs and gives results in the form of: eliminating pain, swelling and inflammation, stimulating the outflow of purulent contents, destroying pathogenic microorganisms and strengthening the immune system);
phonophoresis (a combined method of physiotherapeutic treatment, combining ultrasound and medication);
microcurrent reflexology (a modern and continuing to develop method of rehabilitation of patients with various neuropsychic disorders).

Treatment of sensorineural hearing loss can also be carried out using traditional medicine. But do not forget that all actions (folk recipes) must be agreed with a doctor.

Prepared recipes of traditional medicine are divided into means for instillation, for oral administration and homemade medicines in the form of ointments and compresses. For this, medicinal plants such as bay leaf, lemon balm, viburnum, string, calamus, rowan and others are used. Some components may cause allergic reactions, so this method must be used with caution.

Also, for sensorineural hearing loss, a hearing aid method (the use of hearing aids or other devices that help improve hearing) may be chosen. Installation of hearing implants is the most effective, but at the same time one of the most difficult ways to solve the problem.

The hearing aid procedure takes place in stages and begins with anamnesis and diagnosis. Next, the specialist evaluates the results, selects a suitable hearing aid and adjusts it.

The patient needs time to get used to this device. The adaptation period requires a lot of strength and patience, so it is very important that a specialist provides timely information support and, in case of discomfort (both physical and emotional), helps to cope with this problem.

The hearing aid procedure is contraindicated for certain acute inflammatory diseases of the ear, impaired vestibular function and precancerous conditions. This method is sometimes ineffective in cases of complete deafness and central hearing loss.

Prevention

The organ of hearing is affected by many external factors that provoke the development of deteriorated sound perception, so familiarization with basic preventive measures is extremely important.

Basic preventive measures:

it is necessary to eliminate (limit) the negative impact of household and professional hazards;
you should give up bad habits;
the use of certain drugs (otoxic drugs) should be only according to indications and intended purpose;
Detoxification agents should be used exclusively with drugs that improve microcirculation.

Sensorineural hearing loss is a disease that does not go away on its own, but requires treatment. The sooner the patient seeks qualified medical help, the higher the likelihood that hearing will be fully restored. Therefore, you should not put off visiting a doctor and (or) self-medicate.

A partial decrease in sound perception due to diseases of the nervous system and inner ear is congenital and acquired. It is diagnosed in more than half of patients with hearing problems. Treatment of sensorineural hearing loss is carried out conservatively and surgically. The choice of treatment method depends on the cause and extent of the disease.

Sensorineural hearing loss, what is it?

Perceptual or sensorineural hearing loss (ICD code H90) is a decrease in hearing as a result of damage to the auditory nerve fibers or centers in the brain, the inner part of the ear responsible for transmitting sound vibrations.

In most cases, the pathology is associated with damage to the hair structures of the peripheral part of the auditory analyzer, less often with defects of the vestibulocochlear nerve or auditory centers of the brain. In case of a defect in the cortical part of the auditory analyzer, which is extremely rare, the sensitivity of the organ is within normal limits, but the quality of sound perception is reduced.

Reasons for development

The disease is congenital and acquired. In the first case, hearing loss is influenced by genetic defects. In the acquired form, the development of pathology is influenced by external factors that affect the functioning of the central nervous system and ear after birth.

Congenital causes of sensorineural hearing loss

Congenital sensorineural deafness is caused by abnormalities during embryonic development, which are associated with severe infections suffered by the mother during pregnancy. Chlamydia, syphilis, and rubella virus can cause disturbances in the development of the hearing system. Such diseases lead to defects in the development of the hearing organs, nervous system, as well as congenital pathologies of the cardiovascular system, visual organs, etc.

The process of formation and development of sound-perceiving organs and the nervous system is negatively affected by the toxic effects of alcoholic beverages, narcotic and psychotropic substances, and medications that the mother uses during gestation.

A high risk of congenital hearing loss exists in the presence of an autosomal gene - it is hereditary. For parents with sensorineural deafness, the probability of having a child with a similar disease reaches 50%.

Premature birth also increases the risk of sensorineural deafness, as the baby's hearing organs are still in their developing stages.

Predisposing factors influence the process of formation and development of organs for the perception of sound vibrations and lead to:

underdevelopment of the anterior part of the membranous labyrinth;
chromosomal defects;
pathological growth of middle ear tissue and tumor formation.

Acquired causes of sensorineural hearing loss

Acquired sensorineural hearing loss is associated with unfavorable factors that affect the internal apparatus responsible for transmitting vibrations, the nervous system or the brain.

Causes of acquired deafness:

Acoustic injuries are associated with prolonged exposure to noise and sounds of more than 90 dB, so the risk of developing the disease increases in people who work in noisy industries and enjoy listening to loud music on headphones.
Mechanical injuries resulting from falls, blows to the head or injuries during accidents, road accidents.
Uncontrolled intake of antibacterial agents of the group of aminoglycosides and macrolides, non-steroidal antiphlogistic drugs, diuretics, salicylates.
Viral pathologies (measles, rubella, herpes, HIV) of a severe course that damage nerve fibers and affect the anterior part of the membranous labyrinth and the auditory sensory system.
Diseases of bacterial etiology of various localizations (meningitis).
Autoimmune diseases, which not only affect the functioning of the central nervous system and ear, but also lead to decreased immunity and an increased likelihood of developing infectious and inflammatory diseases.
Allergies that occur with frequent rhinitis provoke inflammation of the middle section. cause changes in the structures of the auditory sensory system, complications from the vascular system that cause the syndrome.
Tumors of benign and malignant nature, cystic neoplasms affecting auditory nerve fibers, meninges, anterior part of the membranous labyrinth.
– a pathology characterized by the growth of bone tissue around the bone of the middle ear, which provokes its immobility.
Poisoning of the body with chemical compounds and heavy metals.
Frequent pressure changes.
Diseases of the vascular system (hypertension, thrombophlebitis, atherosclerosis), as a result of which blood flow to the vestibulocochlear organ deteriorates, the supply of nutrients and oxygen decreases, as a result of which degenerative processes develop.
Age-related changes.

Classification of the disease

Depending on the causes, deafness is classified into 2 types: congenital and acquired. The first type is associated with factors that affect the organs of auditory perception during fetal development, the second - with reasons that affect the organs after birth.

Partial loss of auditory perception of the congenital type is divided into 2 forms:

non-syndromic – along with deafness, there are no symptoms of other pathologies;
syndromic - a disease characterized by a clinical picture of deafness and other diseases, such as the heart muscle, vascular system or organs of vision.

Depending on the location of the disease, unilateral and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss are distinguished. In the first case, only one organ is affected, and the pathology can be right-sided or left-sided. As a rule, this type develops as a result of infectious and inflammatory pathologies or injuries. Bilateral pathology affects both simultaneously and is associated with infection, acoustic trauma and pressure changes.

Based on the nature of the course, there are 4 forms of sensorineural hearing loss:

sudden is characterized by a sudden appearance and rapid development over several hours, for example, as a result of head injuries;
acute occurs with a pronounced clinical picture and develops gradually, for example, against the background of an infectious lesion;
subacute develops over a long period and has a blurred clinical picture, which complicates diagnosis and leads to a lack of timely therapy;
chronic is characterized by alternating exacerbation of the symptoms of deafness and a latent course; as a rule, a decrease in the ability to perceive sounds is difficult to treat, as it is associated with serious illnesses and dystrophic transformations of the ear or nerve fibers.

Degrees of pathological condition

When choosing treatment, sensorineural hearing loss plays an important role. Hearing loss, regardless of the type and form of its course, goes through 4 stages of development, each of which has a different duration and clinical picture.

First degree

Sensorineural hearing loss of 1st degree is characterized by a decrease in the hearing threshold to 25-40 dB. At this stage, the disease remains unnoticed, since the person continues to distinguish normal speech at a great distance - up to 6 m, and quiet speech - up to 3 m. Difficulties can arise only when extraneous noise appears, which significantly reduces the distance between the interlocutors.

Second degree

Sensorineural hearing loss of the 2nd degree during an audiometric study is diagnosed by reducing the ability to perceive sounds with a strength of up to 40-55 dB. At this stage of development of the pathology, the patient perceives the speech of the interlocutor at a great distance much worse. For comfortable communication, it is necessary to approach a distance of no more than 4 m, when quiet speech can only be heard at a distance of 1 m.

Stage 2 hearing loss syndrome forces a person to frequently ask questions and strain their hearing while talking on the phone. With a one-sided form of sensorineural deafness, the patient hears better with the healthy organ, so during communication he tries not to face the side with the affected ear towards the interlocutor.

Third degree

Sensorineural hearing loss of the 3rd degree is characterized by serious disturbances in the functioning of the vestibular-cochlear tissues, which is associated with difficult-to-reversible degenerative processes of the sound-receiving apparatus or nerve fibers. During audiometry, the hearing threshold reaches 70 dB.

At this stage, the patient ceases to hear whispers and quiet speech. For comfortable communication, it is necessary to maintain a distance of no more than 2 m from the interlocutor. A person with impairment of the vestibular-cochlear apparatus of the 3rd degree constantly asks again and does not perceive rapid speech. This together creates great difficulties in communication, so the patient is prescribed sound-amplifying devices.

Fourth degree

Sensorineural hearing loss of 4 degrees is a serious illness in which a person does not perceive sounds with a strength below 90 dB (screams). At this stage, conservative therapy is ineffective - wearing sound-amplifying devices or surgical intervention is indicated to eliminate defects in the middle section, installing prostheses that replace damaged sections of the vestibulocochlear organ.

Symptoms and manifestations of sensorineural hearing loss

Symptoms of sensorineural hearing loss appear at the first stage of development of the disease, when a person ceases to distinguish quiet speech in the presence of noise interference - it is difficult for him to distinguish it from the general mass of sounds.

At the second stage, the signs of sensorineural hearing loss progress - the patient ceases to hear whispers and quiet speech in noise, and when talking in normal tones, the distance with the interlocutor is significantly reduced. A person at stage 2 of the development of pathology may not hear an alarm clock, telephone or doorbells.

Stage 3 is characterized by pronounced symptoms of sensorineural hearing loss: the patient does not hear a whisper near the ear, and to differentiate ordinary speech, the interlocutor must be at a distance of no more than 2 m. At stage 4, the patient does not hear quiet and ordinary speech, dialogue in raised tones is perceived only at a distance of up to 1m.

There are also common signs of sensorineural hearing loss that unite all stages of the pathological condition - these are: tinnitus, speech distortion, constant asking, the need to strain your hearing during a conversation. If the auditory analyzer is damaged, headaches and dizziness, nausea, and vomiting with sudden movements may occur.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss is made at an appointment with an otolaryngologist, when the patient complains of decreased hearing quality. For diagnostic purposes, the ENT examines the condition of the outer ear and excludes the presence of obstacles to the passage of sound waves (cerumen plugs, inflammatory processes, foreign bodies, neoplasms). Then he diagnoses the quality of hearing: the patient sits at a distance of 6 m, the doctor speaks in a whisper and in a normal tone, if necessary, the distance is reduced. Based on the data obtained, a diagnosis is made.

Audiometry is used to determine the degree of sensorineural hearing loss. The method involves the study of acoustic reflexes and the state of the middle part of the organ for the perception of sound vibrations. Impedancemetry is a method for diagnosing sensorineural hearing loss by determining the state of the auditory nerve, its ability to conduct and perceive sounds.

Drug treatment

The choice of therapy depends on the stage, cause and form of sensorineural hearing loss. For infectious etiology, antibacterial and antiviral therapy is carried out. The drugs help relieve the inflammatory process, relieve swelling and restore the functioning of the auditory center.

Treatment of sensorineural hearing loss, which is accompanied by nausea, vomiting and dizziness, is carried out with the help of antihistamines, which normalize the microcirculation of the inner ear and reduce pressure. Diuretics are used to relieve swelling.

Treatment of sensorineural hearing loss with nootropics is necessary when the functioning of nerve fibers is disrupted to improve metabolic processes. Therapy for deafness is supplemented with medications to normalize blood circulation, remove toxins and saturate the body with vitamins and minerals.

As a rule, with timely diagnosis and correct treatment of sensorineural hearing loss, the prognosis is favorable - it is possible to stop the process of hearing deterioration or restore it completely.

Hearing aids

Hearing replacement is a method of correcting the functioning of the vestibulocochlear apparatus using high-tech devices and implants. The choice of device is based on the stage of the disease, age and preferences of the patient.

For this purpose the following are used:

external sound-amplifying devices for left-sided or right-sided deafness of 4 and 3 degrees;
middle section prostheses - for chronic form;
inner ear prosthesis for bilateral chronic sensorineural deafness of 3 and 4 degrees;
stem medullary for tonic organization of brainstem nuclei;
Bone conduction prostheses are used to treat congenital sensorineural hearing loss in children.

The process of adaptation to a sound-amplifying device takes up to six months.

Cochlear implantation

A cochlear implant is a medical device that helps compensate for complete hearing loss by transforming sounds into successive impulses that stimulate auditory nerve endings. A prosthesis is installed for chronic sensorineural hearing loss of stage 4, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss at stages 3, 4, when the patient loses the ability to differentiate speech even in the presence of sound-amplifying devices.

Treatment of chronic sensorineural hearing loss by installing a cochlear implant is effective only when hearing function is impaired as a result of atrophy of the hair cell structures of the cochlea. If the nature of deafness is different, this method is ineffective. The greatest productivity of the cochlear apparatus is in socially adapted patients.

Treatment of sensorineural hearing loss in children using cochlear prosthetics is carried out by decision of a special commission based on the results of a comprehensive study.

Traditional medicine recipes

Treatment of acute sensorineural hearing loss is possible only by taking medications or using special sound-amplifying devices or implants. Traditional medicine can only be used to prevent sensorineural hearing loss.

The most effective are freshly squeezed juices of rowan, viburnum or beet, walnut and almond oil. Soak the turunda in any liquid product and place it in the ear canal overnight. The duration of therapy takes from 15 to 20 nights.

A positive result occurs when using propolis infusion: mix propolis tincture and vegetable oil in a ratio of 1:3. Soak the turunda in the solution and place it in the ear canal overnight. The course of treatment is from 10 to 15 procedures.

Oregano, lemon balm or mint leaves, which are recommended to be placed in the ear canal until dry, help to cope perfectly with hearing loss. Duration of treatment is 2 weeks.

Sensorineural hearing loss is a dysfunction of the vestibulocochlear apparatus associated with disruption of the functioning of the brain, nerve fibers, and inner ear. It is congenital and acquired. Correction is carried out with medication or with the help of prostheses or sound-amplifying devices. With timely treatment, the prognosis is favorable.