Binaural Hearing Loss: Understanding and Managing the Condition

Both ears being affected by hearing loss tends to be a fairly common problem. Binaural hearing loss, also known as bilateral hearing loss, is a condition where both ears experience some form of hearing impairment. When suffering from it, an individual may find it hard to hear and interpret sound when there are a lot of noises, especially in busy places. In this blog, we will explore what binaural hearing loss is, its causes, symptoms, and potential treatment options.

What is Binaural Hearing Loss?

Binaural hearing loss refers to hearing impairment in both ears. Unlike unilateral hearing loss, which affects only one ear, binaural hearing loss can make it more difficult to localize sounds, understand speech in noisy places, and enjoy everyday activities that rely on hearing, like conversations and listening to music.

In binaural hearing loss, both ears experience similar levels of hearing impairment, though the degree of loss may differ slightly from one ear to the other. People may experience this condition with mild to extreme hearing loss and it can happen to people at any age.

Causes of Binaural Hearing Loss

There are several causes of binaural hearing loss, ranging from genetic factors to environmental influences. Some of the things that most often lead to burnout are:

1. A common type of hearing loss is called Age-Related Hearing Loss (Presbycusis).
   Over the years, the internal sensory cells which help hearing, decline which can eventually cause hearing loss. Most cases of this hearing loss affect both ears at the same time and usually get worse as people get older, usually from their 60s or 70s.
2. Noise is a common cause of hearing loss known as Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL).
   Hearing both ears be lost if the cochlea is damaged, as may occur from excessive noise at concerts, using loud machinery or prolonged use of headphones. Little by little, the damage to the eardrums may cause people to lose their hearing.
3. Genetic Factors:
   Some people are born with a predisposition to hearing loss, and genetic factors can lead to binaural hearing loss in both ears. A disease such as Usher syndrome which involves losing hearing and eyesight, is a typical cause of bilateral hearing loss.
   
   
4. Infections:
   There are infections, for example, meningitis, measles and mumps which may harm the auditory system and lead to hearing loss in both ears. There are periods when the hearing loss is not lasting, but it may also last longer and stay with the patient permanently.
5. Being hit by something around the head can bring inversion.
   Head injuries that impact the auditory system, such as trauma to the ear or skull, can result in binaural hearing loss. How severe the injury is and what type of ear damage occurs will decide if the hearing loss is temporary or permanent.
6. Ototoxic Medications:
   A few medications such as certain chemotherapy drugs and antibiotics, may be toxic to the ears and result in hearing loss from both ears. This is called ototoxicity and using the drug for a long time may cause lasting damage to the ears.
7. Acoustic Neuroma:
   An acoustic neuroma forms on the vestibulocochlear nerve which aids hearing and balance. While it usually affects one ear, larger tumors can cause binaural hearing loss due to pressure on the nerve.

Symptoms of Binaural Hearing Loss

The symptoms of binaural hearing loss can vary depending on the severity of the condition. Some of the usual signs are:

Difficulty Understanding Speech: People with binaural hearing loss may find it difficult to understand speech, especially in noisy environments. The sounds from people speaking normally may seem a little soft or far away.

Problems Localizing Sounds: Binaural hearing loss can affect a person’s ability to pinpoint the direction of a sound. It is called sound localization and it becomes hard to locate where the noise is coming from, for example, when talking or listening to traffic.

Tinnitus: Many people with hearing loss, including binaural hearing loss, experience tinnitus, a ringing or buzzing sound in the ears. Many people notice tinnitus more in quiet surroundings and this could increase their feeling that their hearing is worsened.

Presence of Sound Interference: Hearing and understanding people speaking is much harder in places that are noisy such as a crowded restaurant or a noisily-running train. Because the brain needs to ignore more noise from the environment, it becomes more tired.

Diagnosis of Binaural Hearing Loss

If you suspect that you are experiencing binaural hearing loss, it is important to consult an audiologist or healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis. Usual medical diagnosis involves the following procedures.

To do an audiometric test, various auditory exams are performed to check how well you can hear sounds in each ear. A pure-tone audiometry test checks what is the lowest volume of sound you can detect at each specific frequency.

Speech Audiometry aims to see how well you can hear and make out speech, in calm and noisy settings. It tells you if you can follow speech at different volumes.

Tumors or changes in structure that could cause hearing loss may be looked for with MRI or CT imaging tests.

How the Disease Is Handled

While binaural hearing loss cannot always be reversed, there are several treatment options available to manage the condition and improve quality of life.

1. Hearing Aids:
   For individuals with mild to moderate binaural hearing loss, hearing aids are the most common solution. Sound is increased through hearing aids and they can be shaped to address the issues of each person. Some hearing aids fit behind the ear, others are designed to go in the ear and there are models that go in the ear canal.
2. Cochlear Implants:
   Severe to profound hearing loss can be helped with cochlear implants as a treatment option. The damaged parts of the ear are ignored by a cochlear implant which generates stimulation in the auditory nerve. This can help individuals with binaural hearing loss regain the ability to hear sounds.
3. You may also use Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs).
   Assistive listening devices (ALDs) such as FM and infrared systems, can be used along with hearing aids to improve hearing in places like classrooms or theaters. They send sound straight to your hearing aid or cochlear implant which lowers surrounding noise.
4. Speech Therapy:
   In some cases, speech therapy can help individuals with binaural hearing loss improve their speech comprehension skills, especially if the hearing loss has been gradual. Both lip reading and listening practice can improve how well someone converses.
5. Tinnitus Management:
   Sound therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) could help people with tinnitus experience less ringing or buzzing in their ears.
6. Surgical Interventions:
   Sometimes such as with acoustic neuroma or ear infections, the cause of hearing loss needs to be treated with surgery.

Preventing Binaural Hearing Loss

While some causes of binaural hearing loss, such as genetics or age-related factors, cannot be prevented, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of acquiring hearing loss:

Wear earplugs or noise-canceling headphones in loud places to save your hearing.

Keep the noise of your music down using headphones and don’t listen to them for long periods.

Stay away from Ototoxic Drugs: Choose alternatives if you can to medicines that might harm your hearing. Talk to your doctor if you want to find another approach.

Regular Tests For Hearing Help Early Detection Of Hearing Loss, Allowing Appropriate Interventions To Be Taken.

Conclusion

Binaural hearing loss is a condition that affects many people, with varying causes ranging from age-related degeneration to noise-induced damage and genetics. Even though hearing problems can be challenging daily, modern treatments allow many individuals to leads happy and active lives. When you notice something wrong with your hearing, consult a hearing professional to protect your ears and get treatment.