Nov 13 2021

Does Smoking Lead To Hearing Loss?

Smoking has numerous side effects, most common among which are low blood oxygen level, heart failure, and breathing problems. But does smoking have any negative impact on our hearing? The devastating fact is that, yes, smoking does cause issues in proper hearing and it can affect you even if the smoking is passive or secondhand. People who smoke have more chances of developing high-intensity hearing loss than people who don’t. If your ear feels clogged after smoking. Maybe it’s because smoking is indeed impacting your hearing ability. Some of the most irritating hearing issues, such as tinnitus, can also be seen in frequent smokers. Now that we have established the fact that smoking leads to hearing loss, let us see exactly how the two are linked:

As one smokes, nicotine enters the bloodstream and the concentration of carbon monoxide also increases. Together, they result in a lower blood oxygen level which may lead to the poor performance of the neurotransmitters in the auditory nerve. This leads to the failure of our brain to differentiate one sound from the other.
The Eustachian tube is one of the most important parts of our ear which maintains the pressure in the ears. It runs from the middle ear to the back of the throat and also helps in draining the mucous of the middle ear. Smoking causes blockage of the eustachian tube which leads to disruption in pressure, causing hearing problems.
Smoking induces the release of free radicals into our bodies, which causes serious damage to the DNA in some cases. This can lead to various diseases, one among them being hearing loss.
Even during the later years of our adolescence, the part responsible for the development of our hearing ability in the central nervous system is still developing. Because of this reason, subjecting the nervous system to smoke can cause inhibition in the development, causing hearing problems such as being more sensitive to loud noises.

People who smoke are more susceptible to ear infections as well. Smoking weakens our immune system, which makes it easier for outside bacteria and viruses to attack our ears, leading to serious ear infections. You are also susceptible to tinnitus and other serious hearing-related diseases, so if you are looking for a reason to quit smoking, then let this be it. Your blood oxygen level and circulation are said to improve soon after you quit and even your nerve endings will begin to regenerate. If you face any hearing-related issues, make sure to give an audiologist a visit.

Tony 0 Comments

Nov 13 2021

Who Are Audiologists And What Are Their Roles?

Medical terminologies can be quite confusing. The same can be said when it comes to audiology as well. There can be a lot of confusing terms that seem to represent the same thing. So, who exactly is an audiologist and what does he/she do? Let us have a look.

An audiologist is someone who deals with the hearing and balance-related issues of our ear. There are similar occupations in the field, like that of an Otolaryngologist and Hearing Instrument Specialists. The former deals with the diseases of the ear, throat, mouth, and nose, while the latter focuses on selling hearing aids to individuals with issues of hearing loss. Audiologists are more focused on the ‘hearing’ part and help us identify and cure any hearing-related issue. Some of the roles that can be taken up by an audiologist are:

Audiological Care Coordinator

Individuals with hearing problems may often need to take treatment from different institutions and the course of treatment may differ each time. A proper track of the same has to be maintained. Also, they might need guidance in choosing the right medical opinion. An audiological care coordinator is an individual that helps the patients with all these things.

Counsellor

A counsellor essentially identifies the needs of a patient and then suggests the necessary solutions which can be adopted by them. The role also involves analyzing the audiology assessments of the patient and explaining them in detail to the family in understandable terms. The counselling is not only given to the patient, but to the whole family at times.

Diagnostician

As the name indicates, a diagnostician is someone who performs tests on the patients to diagnose the problem. The right kind of equipment along with the suitable environment is necessary for a diagnostician to perform his/her role properly.

Educational Audiologist

Creating awareness and educating individuals on the topic of hearing problems and possible deafness is quite important, especially in schools. An educational audiologist is someone who works along with the teachers and other school staff, helping them to deal with students who are hearing-impaired.

Audiological Researcher

Every field has to do proper research for proper understanding and further development of the same. The audiological researcher dives deeper into the concept and looks for ways to improve the existing hearing equipment, to develop more accurate and quick diagnostics methods, and so on.

Hearing-related issues can be quite serious and it is important to get your ears checked by an audiologist to get the prescription for a hearing aid. Make sure to visit your hearing aid store and choose a hearing aid that suits you best.