There are several types of hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss occurs when sounds are blocked and unable to get into the inner ear. The condition can be caused by a buildup of wax, fluid in the middle ear, a punctured eardrum, ear infection or birth defect. Removal or correction of the blockage can often restore hearing.

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when the hearing structures in the inner ear or auditory nerve are damaged. It can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection, exposure to loud noise, head injury, tumor, congenital malformations of the hearing structures or use of certain medications.

Mixed hearing loss is diagnosed when hearing loss is caused by a combination of problems in the outer or middle ear and the inner ear. Another form of hearing loss, central hearing loss, is the result of damage to the hearing nerves or pathways in the brain.

Hearing loss is quite common. According to SHHH (Self Help for Hard of Hearing People), 28 million Americans (one in ten) have some degree of hearing loss. It's more common with age. About one-third of those over 60 and one-half of people over 85 have hearing loss.

Screening for Hearing Loss

People with hearing loss may show some signs of a hearing difficulty, like having to turn up the volume on the television or radio, having trouble understanding group conversations (especially in a noisy room) and having difficulty hearing on the telephone. The problem may be ignored or dismissed by a patient. However, hearing loss interferes with the ability to fully participate in social activities and can affect relationships with family, friends and coworkers.

Now, there's a new screening test for hearing that can be done right in the office of the family physician. It's called the Otogram(tm). First, doctors ask some standard hearing questions. If a hearing loss is suspected, the patient is given the Otogram.

The Otogram is a self (patient)-administered test that doesn't need to be done in a sound booth. A special headset is placed on the patient's head and in the ears. The patient completes the test by following the instructions on a touch-screen device. The examiner can be alerted at any time during the test if the patient has any questions. Language barriers aren't a problem because the instructions can be given in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian and Mandarin. Developers hope to soon provide instructions in more languages in the future.

The Otogram takes about 20 minutes to complete. Results are available immediately, providing the physician with a good assessment of hearing conduction and speech reception and recognition. Healthcare providers can use the information to determine if a patient should be referred for evaluation by a hearing specialist or wait for re-testing in a year. Experts say the cost of screening is being covered by Medicare and Medicaid and some health insurance plans.

SOURCES
Damon Weddington, M.D. (featured in story), Internal Medicine Specialist, Wills Diagnostic Clinic-Houston, office practice: 2000 Crawford, Suite 900, Houston, TX 77002, interview, June 20, 2005. (Media Contact: Carla Pagotto, Marketing Manager, Tympany, (281) 313-5858.)

For information on hearing loss or hearing aids:
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, http://www.agbell.org
American Academy of Audiology, http://www.audiology.org
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, http://www.nidcd.nih.gov
SHHH (Self Help for Hard of Hearing People), http://www.hearingloss.org