How to Prevent Nerve Deafness
Nerve deafness results from nerve damage to the middle ear, usually a consequence of overexposure to loud sounds. This occurs when the hair follicles in the cochlea are damaged and unable to send sound to the brain for interpretation. The degree of nerve deafness varies and usually gets worse with time. Follow these guidelines to prevent nerve deafness.
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Instructions
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Avoid loud noise. Play your television and music at comfortable levels and resist the urge to amplify your favorite songs and television shows. Do not increase the television volume so you can hear it from another room.
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Ask for assistance from others to protect your hearing. If you are around loud, unnecessary noises, such as an amplified stereo, ask the person to lower the volume. If that is not possible, leave the environment until the amplified sounds subside.
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Buy earplugs and keep them with you at all times. Find places to keep an extra pair of earplugs such as a glove compartment or gym bag. Take them with you when traveling and always have a pair in your medicine cabinet or nightstand.
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Treat a fever immediately. High fevers will damage hair follicles in the inner ear, causing nerve deafness. A fever may indicate a serious illness, like meningitis, which can be fatal or cause permanent hearing loss if not treated in time.
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Seek medical attention for reoccurring episodes of dizziness. If you have frequent and reoccurring dizziness, it could indicate hearing loss or another serious medical condition. Vertigo and Meniere's disease are serious medical conditions that are often associated with hearing loss and nerve deafness.
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Ask for an alternative drug if your medication causes ototoxicity. Some drugs induce hearing loss such as antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Drugs for chemotherapy save lives, but the lasting side effect may permanently damage your hearing.
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Prevent trauma to the head. Physical trauma will cause damage to the middle ear so wear a helmet and practice safety precautions when performing physical activities. Prevent or leave physically abusive environments, and prevent your children from using physical force to solve disagreements.
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Tips & Warnings
Your doctor can help determine whether the benefits of your medication outweigh the side effects.
Resources
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