Therapy Analysis - Hearing Loss & Tinnitus
Hearing Loss & Tinnitus
“How could I possibly admit to an infirmity in that one sense which ought to be more perfect in me than in others, a sense which I once possessed in the highest perfection, a perfection such as few in my profession have or ever have had.... [The humiliation] drove me to despair...I would have ended my life. It was only my art that held me back.” Ludwig van Beethoven
Since the invention of the first electric guitar in the 1920s, the technological revolution has changed the face of music.
With the ability to amplify music to high volumes whilst maintaining incredible sound quality, nightclubs and rock concerts create an exhilarating experience, but sadly, for avid music fans, the implications seem to have been massively overlooked. In fact, this lack of awareness is causing a dramatic increase in hearing damage in young people, making it no longer restricted to the aging population.
It is perhaps difficult to imagine what it would be like to experience a permanent, significant loss of hearing. However, hearing loss is frequently experienced in a temporary form, often as a direct result of loud music in night clubs or at concerts, and is characterized by the muffled hearing that can make post-gig discussions so difficult. This is often accompanied by a ringing or buzzing sound which, although commonly thought of as a harmless and temporary reminder of the night's events, can become permanent, and is a sign of irreversible hearing damage resulting from the prolonged exposure to excessive levels of sound.
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is just one way in which the normally functioning auditory system can be damaged. The use of ototoxic drugs and the natural process of aging can also reduce the functioning of the auditory system. Many cases of full or partial deafness have a genetic basis, with one in every thousand babies born with a hearing impairment, and patterns of hearing loss being consistent within families.
Whatever the causes, the current lack of restorative therapeutics means that once hearing is damaged, it is permanently damaged. With a greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms of hearing loss, and with recent advances in biotechnology, perhaps the future holds promise for an effective treatment, but this remains to be seen.
