http://goo.gl/B6X0bl | http://goo.gl/AtMQHR - Ear, nose and throat specialists, also
called ENTs, ENT doctors and otolaryngologists, specialize in otolaryngology
(pronounced ō-tō-la-rən-gä-lə-jē). Otolaryngologists diagnose, manage and treat
disorders of the head and neck, including the ears, nose throat, sinuses, voice
box (larynx) and other structures. Otolaryngology is a surgical specialty and
ENTs are trained in the medical and surgical management of disease.
The negative impact
of untreated hearing loss on overall quality of life is well-documented.
Hearing loss can affect more than just communication ability. It can lead to
irritability, social withdrawal, depression, reduced job performance and
diminished psychological and overall health.
For someone
suffering from hearing loss, many environments can be intimidating due to the
amount of mental energy needed to listen. Clinicians have long reported that
hearing-impaired patients describe the feeling of exhaustion after attending
social events or gatherings. Until recently, the understanding of fatigue, as
it related to hearing loss, was limited, despite its potential impact on
quality of life and overall health.
Defined as lack of
energy and motivation, fatigue can be physical, mental or both. It can result
from physical exercise or the intense cognitive processing required in many
day-to-day situations for individuals with hearing loss. Fatigue can lead to
increased stress, reduced quality of life and even chronic health conditions.
Fatigue due to
hearing loss has also been reported in children. Researchers at Vanderbilt
University used a Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Multidimensional Fatigue
Scale (PedsQL MFS) with students to evaluate how their hearing loss affected
them in the classroom. The conclusion was that children with hearing loss
reported greater fatigue in all areas than their normal-hearing peers. Children
with hearing loss also reported greater fatigue measures than children with
other chronic health conditions.
This research
supports the importance of addressing hearing loss early and thoroughly,
regardless of its cause or degree of severity. Any kind of hearing loss can be
a serious problem. Even a mild or temporary hearing loss due to otitis media
(fluid in the middle ear), which is very common in children, can have a
negative impact on a child’s ability to learn and listen, and should be taken
seriously. In addition to fatigue, children with hearing loss often experience
delays in speech, language and social development.
Classroom strategies
for children with temporary conductive hearing loss due to ear infections or
middle ear fluid may include preferential seating, small-group instruction and
frequent breaks. Timely medical intervention is also necessary to minimize the
duration and severity of the condition.
For
those with hearing loss that is not temporary or medically managed, the proper
fitting of hearing instruments, coupled with accessories designed to maximize
hearing potential, is recommended. Continued advances in assistive listening
devices and hearing instrument technology have resulted in new options to help
hearing-impaired individuals hear comfortably in adverse listening
environments. Specifically, directional microphones and digital noise reduction
in hearing aids as well as frequency modulation (FM) or remote microphone
technology are all strategies aimed at minimizing the stressful and fatiguing
effects of noise and poor acoustic environments. Use of the proper device and
strategy can make a difference by reducing listening effort and increasing
patient comfort, thus reducing overall cognitive fatigue.
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