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What to look for
Hearing problems are
sometimes accompanied by dizziness, earache, discharge or bleeding from the ear, ringing
noise in the ear.
Hearing problems are less
common in children, but if they go untreated, your child may incur social problems such as
making friends.
Causes
Hearing loss may be a
symptom of another underlying ailment. There are certain conditions which can lead to
hearing loss - too much wax in the ears, ear infections, and a damaged eardrum, benign
cysts, tumours, and objects lodged in the ear canal can also block the transmission of
sounds to the inner ear.
Hearing problems can run in
families. In fact, doctors estimate that half of the cases of profound deafness in
children have a genetic source.
Hearing can become
disturbed through prolonged exposure to loud noise.
Several infectious diseases
(most notably shingles, meningitis, syphilis) can cause hearing loss. A pregnant woman who
contracts
German measles is more likely to give birth to
a child who has hearing problems.
It is advisable to speak
with your doctor and have him or her perform a medical examination of you to determine if
your hearing loss is caused by another ailment or disease.
Traditional Treatment
Get The Wax Out. Treatment
of your hearing problem will depend on its underlying cause. It may be as simple as
clearing accumulated wax or there may be an infection which requires a course of
antibiotics.
For some serious hearing
ailments, the only method of treatment is a hearing aid which will improve your ability to
hear.
Alternative/Natural
Treatments
As with conventional
treatment, alternative therapies primarily address underlying problems that may be causing
temporary hearing loss.
Herbal Therapies -
Several
herbs may help heal ear infections that might lead to hearing problems. Garlic (Allium sativum), which is a natural antibiotic, is
considered very effective. Put 1 to 3 drops of garlic oil in your ear three times daily. Several
herbs may help heal ear infections that might lead to hearing problems.
Garlic (Allium sativum), which is a natural antibiotic, is
considered very effective. Put 1 to 3 drops of garlic oil in your ear three times daily.
Herbalists also recommend ginger (Zingiber officinale), another natural antibiotic,
both in tincture and in tea form.
The anti-inflammatory
properties of either
Echinacea (Echinacea spp.) or goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) may help heal an ear
infection.
Ginkgo (Ginkgo Biloba), which has been shown to improve
circulation, is sometimes recommended for inner ear disturbances and partial deafness.
Homoeopathy -
For
acute or chronic hearing problems, homoeopaths recommend a variety of medications. Consult
an experienced practitioner for specific remedies and dosages. For
acute or chronic hearing problems, homoeopaths recommend a variety of medications. Consult
an experienced practitioner for specific remedies and dosages.
Dietary Considerations
Some reports suggest that
hearing can be aided by -
Prevention
Protect your hearing by
wearing earplugs if you are exposed to noise levels that may be harmful to your ears.
Do not listen to loud
music with earphones.
If you are at a concert
and the music hurts your ears, put on earplugs or leave immediately.
Educate your children
about the danger of loud recreational noise.
To lower the risk of
infectious diseases that may lead to permanent hearing loss, make sure your children
receive all of their immunisations.
If your ears tend to get
severely blocked with wax frequently, have them cleared by your doctor
When to seek further
professional advice
you notice any hearing
problems
you experience a sudden
and total hearing loss in one or both ears.
your ear secretes pus or
fluid
your hearing loss is
accompanied by dizziness and nausea
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