TreatmentTherapy
The treatment of a hearing disorder depends largely on what type of hearing disorder it is and what the trigger was. A rough distinction is made between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. In conductive hearing loss, a disorder is found on the way to the inner ear, whereas in sensorineural hearing loss the problem lies in the inner ear itself or in the brain.
Common causes of conductive hearing loss include polyps in the nasopharyngeal cavity (enlarged pharyngeal tonsils), which can be removed by surgery. If the inner ear is affected, it is often necessary to fit a hearing aid. In cases of complete deafness, the implantation of a so-called cochlear implant may be a possibility. This is intended to replace the function of the inner ear by converting acoustic signals coming from outside into electrical impulses that stimulate the auditory nerves and thus transmit an auditory impression to the brain. In addition to the above-mentioned treatment approaches, speech therapy is in most cases an important accompanying therapy.
Duration and prognosis
The duration or prognosis of a hearing impairment is highly variable. Congenital hearing defects often have a poor prognosis in that they rarely regress. Hearing defects that affect sound conduction often have a cause that can be treated, such as effusions in the ear or large pharyngeal tonsils. Sound sensation disturbances usually do not regress either.However, if they are detected and treated in time (e.g. with a hearing aid) and the children are closely monitored, the child’s development may be quite normal in some cases, depending on the extent of the disease and the delay between the start and the diagnosis and initiation of therapy.
