Mid-tone hearing loss: definition
Mid-tone hearing loss forms a subtype of sensory hearing loss. While the middle frequency rangeis usually the most sensitive to hearing, midrange hearing loss exists in this same range. When it occurs in combination with a high-frequency or low-frequency hearing loss, a broadband hearing loss is present. A combination of hearing losses most often occurs with increasing age.
Causes of middle ear hearing loss
The occurrence of a middle ear hearing loss results from problems in the inner ear, more precisely in the cochlea. Thus, the type of hearing loss is one of the internal ear hearing loss. In the middle part of the cochlea, a death of hair cells causes the hearing loss that triggers the symptomatology. Middle-ear hearing loss is due to inheritance processes that account for the early onset and ongoing worsening of hearing loss.
Symptoms: Recognizing middle tone hearing loss
Symptoms indicative of a middle tone hearing loss become apparent relatively quickly in everyday communication. Affected people find it increasingly difficult to understand speech, even without background noise. The complaints do not refer to low and high tones, these can be heard. A midrange hearing loss can develop by continuing deterioration to bordering on deafness. Usually, both ears are affected equally.
Diagnosis: How is a middle tone hearing loss diagnosed?
For a meaningful diagnosis, both objective and subjective tests are used. The latter are only feasible if patients are able to provide feedback on their hearing. Accordingly, they are not very suitable for children and babies. Objective tests determine the degree and origin of hearing impairment. The preparation of an audiogram provides information about the frequency ranges affected.
Midrange hearing loss audiogram
The audiogram reveals that the patient records adequate hearing in the high and low frequency ranges. In the midrange segment, however, clear impairments are evident from the slope of the curves. Therefore, from the audiogram, a midrange hearing loss can be concluded.
Treatment a middle tone hearing loss
Mid-tone hearing loss is not curable. This is mainly due to the fact that there is a degeneration of the hair sensory cells, which is irreparable. Likewise, mid-tone hearing loss cannot be prevented, as is the case with the majority of other types of hearing loss. However, with the help of hearing aids, an improvement of the symptoms can be achieved: The hearing aids amplify the impaired frequency range and thus enable everyday speech comprehension.