-Taiwo Olatunji
Some hearing loss is a natural part of aging. Others occur at an early age. The cause could be something as simple as excessive earwax, It could also be caused by eardrum, a head injury, high blood pressure, an ear infection meningitis or a tumour.
Sudden loud noises close to the ear, such as firecrackers or gunshots, can cause immediate hearing loss. But usually, noises- induced hearing loss happens gradually, over the years. In general, the longer you expose yourself to a loud rock concert or a leaf blower, the more likely you are to destroy cilia in the inner ear and damage your hearing.
If you suspect that you have hearing problem, particularly if you have ringing in your ears or develop a sudden sensitivity to loud noises that didnt bother you in the past, see your doctor or a physician who specializes in diseases of ear, nose and throat. Some nearing problems such as meniere’s disease, a disorder that causes ringing in the ears and dizziness, can be treated with prescription medication or surgery. Other conditions, such as perforated eardrums and otosclerosis, maybe corrected with surgery.
