Common Illnesses That Cause Hearing Loss
Over your lifetime, it's not uncommon to develop viruses that can impact your body. Some viruses can impact your auditory nerve located in your inner ear and cause hearing loss. There are many viruses that medical professionals know that result in hearing loss.
Measles
One virus that is very well known to result in hearing loss is Measles. This illness causes degeneration of the cochlear neurons. Those with this illness have lateral hearing loss ranging from moderate to profound. To prevent getting the measles bacteria, you'll want to get the MMR vaccine.
Varicella-Zoster
This particular virus produces shingles and chickenpox. About 24% of people who get this virus will experience sensorineural hearing loss. This is a very contagious illness that spreads through fluid droplets in the air. Patients who develop this virus can also develop Ramsay Hunt syndrome. This is a particular illness that is often associated with tinnitus and hearing loss. As soon as you notice any symptoms of hearing loss, it's vital to contact a hearing care professional.
Mumps
The most common virus responsible for hearing loss is the mumps. This virus is very contagious and belongs to the same viral family as the measles. People with hearing loss due to mumps will have symptoms about four to five days after getting the mumps. Most report unilateral hearing loss that is due to the degeneration of hair cells in the inner ear. In some cases, damage to your hearing from the mumps virus is reversible. In other cases, it presents as severe and permanent.
West Nile Virus
One virus that has gotten a lot of publicity in the recent decade is the West Nile Virus. Known to spread through mosquitoes and other insects, this virus can be dangerous to the body. The bacteria spreads to humans through a bite from the insect. While some people don't develop any severe symptoms, some do develop severe symptoms. These severe symptoms include those that can affect hearing.
Not all these illnesses will result in permanent hearing loss, but some of them will. It's important to know where the bacteria comes from and how to protect yourself from getting it. For most of these, getting a vaccine can help to protect against getting the bacteria. It can also protect you against the threat of acquired hearing loss.
Contact Us Today
If you're experiencing hearing loss due to an illness, it's important to seek medical help. Give us a call today to let our hearing care professionals check your hearing loss. We can provide you with the necessary solutions for managing it.
