Treatable causes of hearing loss Cerumen impaction Wax accumulation -> block ear canal. Treatment: Wax removal -> ear drops or manual removal by healthcare professional. Ear infections Bacterial or viral infections affecting middle or inner ear. Treatment: Bacterial -> antibiotics Viral -> supportive care and symptom management. Perforated eardrum Hole or tear in the eardrum Treatment: Depends on size and cause. Small perforations may heal spontaneously. Large perforations -> may require surgical repair -> tympanoplasty. Noise induced hearing loss Prolonged exposure to loud noises damages the delicate hair cells in the inner ear. Treatment: Prevention (use of ear protection). Avoiding further noise exposure. Medications Aminoglycoside antibiotics Loop diuretics Treatment: Discontinuing or adjusting medications. Acoustic trauma Exposure to a single extreme noise e.g. gunshot, explosion etc. Treatment: Immediate medical evaluation. Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation. Labyrinthitis and Meniere’s disease Inner inflammation or fluid imbalance Treatment: Medications -> antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Lifestyle modifications. Sometimes surgery. Otitis media Infection in the middle ear. Treatment: Antibiotics for bacterial infections. Addressing underlying factors. Tumours or growths Benign or malignant growths affecting the ear structures. Treatment: Surgical removal or other targeted therapies. Autoimmune inner ear disease Immune system attacks inner ear structures. Treatment: Immunosuppressive medications. Summary of causes of deafness Conductive Sensorineural Congenital Pendred’s syndrome Long QT syndrome Bjornstad’s syndrome (pill tort). End organ External masses Advancing age Wax Occupation acoustic trauma Foreign bodies Meniere’s syndrome Otitis externa Drugs e.g. gentamicin, furosemide Chronic suppuration. VIII nerve lesion Drum Acoustic neuroma Perforation/trauma Cranial nerve trauma Middle ear Inflammatory lesions Otosclerosis TB meningitis Ossicular bone problems Sarcoidosis Suppuration -> otitis media Neurosyphilis Carcinomatous meningitis Brainstem lesions (rare) MS Infarction