Children and adults (newborns, infants, and toddlers too) can suffer from many ear disorders that require proper treatment. The kind of treatment depends upon the age of the patient and the extent of severity. In this guide, we will walk you through the different ear disorders that people usually suffer from, the evaluation tests, and also the treatment plans.
If you’ve been meaning to get your hearing test done, this guide is for you. Dive in!
Ear Disorders You Should Know About
The major problems that adults suffer from include tinnitus and vertigo. Hyperacusis is usually detected in kids from the age of 6 and above. Neonatal screening is recommended for infants from the age of 0-9 months.
Infants could be suffering from recurrent ear infections and ear pain and it’s important to get the screening done in order to ensure that your bundle of joy isn’t suffering from any problem.
That said, whilst most of these conditions happen according to age, there’s still no hard and fast rule that a toddler won’t develop tinnitus and an adult won’t develop hyperacusis.
For you to head to an audiologist, you need to know the symptoms that are indications of ear problems.
Here’s a quick section:
- Ringing in the ears without sound stimulus is tinnitus.
- Hyperactivity to certain loud noises is hyperacusis.
- Inability to balance the body while walking is vertigo.
If you or your family members or friends have been experiencing any such issues, you need medical help.
Detection and Treatment Plans Designed To Help Patients
The first thing you have to understand is that most ear disorders are not life-threatening. Though some of them cannot be cured, they can be treated so well that they will stop affecting your day-to-day life.
Everything begins with screening. For instance, Audiology Centre West hearing screening tests designed for infants are painless. Similarly, there are screening tests like VNG, BPPV, and oculomotor assessment for adults.
It’s only experienced audiologists that can suggest and carry out assessments and technical evaluations to find out what you’re exactly suffering from. Based on the findings, treatment can be charted.
Treatment Plans for Different Ear Disorders
Remember, one size won’t fit all: a treatment plan that worked for somebody else might not work for you. It depends on the severity of the disorder.
The most common treatment plans and therapies include:
- Zen therapy and de-stress rehab plans for tinnitus.
- A special FM training program for Hyperacusis.
- Positional maneuvers for Vertigo.
Since only an audiologist can detect, plan, and execute the best treatment possible, make sure you find the best ones.