Drawing attention to the factors that cause hearing loss within the scope of March 3 World Ear and Hearing Day, Prof. Fadlullah Aksoy, Faculty Member of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, stated, "Due to the side effects of some drugs, especially antibiotics, temporary or permanent hearing loss may occur in the inner part of the ear."
Bezmialem Vakıf University Assistant Rector and Department of Otorhinolaryngology Faculty Member Prof. Fadlullah Aksoy stated that hearing loss may be congenital or it may develop later, and underlined the factors that cause hearing loss:
“Some infections such as Measles, Rubella, Syphilis, Herpes, Toxoplasma and CMV in the womb cause permanent hearing loss. Hearing loss can also develop in the case of Kernicterius, which is known as prematurity, perinatal asphyxia, jaundice among the people and progresses with high bilirubin. In addition, recurrent upper respiratory tract infections are seen in childhood, especially after starting nursery and kindergarten. Upper respiratory tract infections can cause middle ear infections. Temporary or permanent hearing loss may occur due to the side effects of some drugs, especially antibiotics, in the inner ear. For this reason, it is extremely important to use the drugs in the appropriate dose and time.
Prof. Fadlullah Aksoy continued his speech as follows:
“Untreated middle ear infections become chronic over time, creating a hole in the eardrum and also dissolving the ossicular chain in the middle ear and disrupting its integrity, resulting in hearing loss. Exposure to explosive sounds and working in a noisy environment for a long time are also among the factors that cause hearing loss. Apart from these, otosclerosis (ear calcification), ear traumas, ear and brain tumors, some hematological diseases, metabolic and many systemic diseases can cause hearing loss. Finally, hearing loss occurs in Presbycusis, which we can define as the physiological aging of the ear.
Hearing Loss in Children Prevents Speech
Prof. Fadlullah Aksoy stated, “It is extremely important to diagnose hearing loss early. Diagnosis of congenital hearing loss, especially in the newborn period, has become a legal obligation in our country. Thus, it is possible to diagnose newborn babies while they are still in the hospital. In order to develop speaking ability in childhood, first of all, the hearing function must be healthy. In other words, if children that are unable to hear are not treated and left to their own devices, it is inevitable that they will become deaf-mute. However, even in the case of congenital deafness, with early diagnosis and treatment, an indistinguishable hearing and therefore speaking ability can be achieved.
“Hearing Loss Can Be Observed in All Age Groups"
Prof. Fadlullah Aksoy, who drew attention to the signals about hearing loss in babies and children, stated, “Parents should be vigilant because babies and children cannot express their complaints. It should be suspected in cases of fever, restlessness, constant crying, change in behavior, diarrhea, constantly touching the ear and should be examined by a physician as soon as possible. Recurrent middle ear infections, especially in school-age children, cause fluid accumulation in the middle ear and may result in hearing loss. Since children with hearing loss cannot hear their teacher, their school success decreases. In cases where it is not treated for a long time, it can also lead to disorders such as introversion, since it can disrupt the child's social communication," and stated the following about the findings in adult individuals:
“In middle ear infections that develop in adults, complaints such as ear pain, feeling of fullness in the ear, hearing loss and fever occur.
Prof. Fadlullah Aksoy concluded, “As a result, hearing loss is an important health problem that can be seen in all age groups. It is extremely important to determine the causes of hearing loss and to make the diagnosis in the early period. There are many medical and surgical options in the treatment of the disease. In the treatment planning stage, many factors should be taken into consideration, especially the type of hearing loss, the developmental period, the age and social status of the person. Diagnosing congenital hearing loss in the newborn period and initiating early treatment prevent the occurrence of irreversible results".
