PRESBYCUSIS

PRESBYCUSIS, OR HEARING LOSS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE EVERY YEAR. COMMON SYMPTOMS ARE PAIN AND LOSS OF HEARING. THIS CAN BE CAUSED BY SEVERAL FACTORS INCLUDING HEREDITY, EARWAX BUILD UP, AND CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO LOUD NOISES. THE MOST COMMON CAUSE IS DAMAGE TO THE INNER EAR. THIS COULD BE FROM EAR INFECTIONS, TUMORS, ABNORMAL BONE GROWTH, OR A RUPTURED EAR DRUM.

DIAGNOSIS IS USUALLY FOUND FROM PERFORMING HEARING TESTS AND WHEN APPROPRIATE A CT SCAN OF THE IAC. TREATMENT FOR HEARING LOSS CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS REMOVING EARWAX TO WEARING HEARING AIDS, TO COCHLEAR IMPLANTS.