National Day of the Deaf: is deafness curable?

The otolaryngologist explains that there are different types of deafness, which has a direct impact on the possibility of treating the disease

Today Brazil celebrates National Day of the Deaf (26/09)a date that commemorates the opening of the first school for the deaf in the country in 1857. This is also an opportunity to promote information on deafness, a condition that affects more than 9 million Brazilians.

Many people think that deafness is a congenital defect with no cure. Therefore, the only solution to overcome the communication limitation imposed by it would be through learning sign language. In fact, there are many cases that arise from which it is difficult to recover. And sign language, obviously, is a very important ally in terms of communication.

Different types of deafness

However, this universe is much larger than you imagine. This is because there are different types of deafness and some of them can manifest themselves throughout our lives. Likewise, they can also be reversible depending on the case, as explained by Dr. Bruna Assis, otolaryngologist at the Paulista Hospital.

“It all depends on the location of the lesion affecting the auditory system. This is the biggest challenge that doctors face: making the appropriate diagnosis, and then seeking treatment that can restore hearing or, at least, improve the patient’s quality of life,” she clarifies.

Bruna points out that the ear is divided into three parts: external, middle and internal. Depending on your location, deafness or hearing loss issues may vary, as may recommended treatments. It is therefore up to doctors to evaluate whether:

• Deafness is due to conduction. In other words, it happens when the problem manifests itself in the external and/or middle ear, which has the function of conducting sound to the internal ear;
• Sensorineural deafness. In other words, it occurs when a lesion occurs in the inner ear, which prevents these cells from carrying the sound stimulus from the inner ear to the brain;
• Mixed condition. When two injuries combine at the same time. Example: an injury to both the external and/or middle ear and the internal ear;
• Deafness is central. In other words, caused by variations in understanding sound information.

The latter case, according to the expert, is considered the most challenging. “It is the most complex type of hearing loss, as it involves all the processing, interpretation of sounds and mental capacity of the patient. The cause of the problem may not be in the ear itself or in one of its structures,” he explains.

In other cases, however, the doctor states that the chances of recovery are much greater, even with the aid of instruments, such as hearing aids.

Awareness

This month, in fact, the theme is the central theme of the “Blue September” or “Deaf September” campaign, which since 2011 has mobilized the medical community across the country. The goal is to draw attention to the struggles and achievements of the deaf community in Brazil and around the world, as well as raise public awareness of the importance of diagnosing and treating this dysfunction.

“It is very important to take care to keep deaf or hard-of-hearing patients integrated into society. Isolation, especially for the elderly, can contribute to the development of diseases such as depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s. It is therefore essential to seek always care, in these cases.”

Is there prevention?

In addition to raising awareness, the doctor emphasizes that measures can also be taken to prevent deafness. The specialist also recommends routine evaluations with an ENT doctor to maintain healthy hearing.

“Although there are genetic factors involved in the process of evolution of hearing loss, some lifestyle habits can reduce the risks. For example: avoiding exposure to intense noise for long periods. The same goes for chronic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia (a disease characterized by abnormalities in the levels of lipids in the blood, mainly total cholesterol and triglycerides)”, says the doctor.

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.