Acoustic cochlear neuritis is a disease that affects the inner ear. As a result, a person ceases to hear sounds well.
Symptoms of disease
Cochlear neuritis, the symptoms of which manifest themselves in different forms, is both acute and chronic. Common signs of illness are:
- Sudden hearing loss.
- Appearance of ringing or other noise effects in the ears. Most often they are high-frequency, that is, they are a squeak that is heard in either one or both ears.
If the treatment of the disease is not started in time, then a complete loss of the ability to hear is possible.
Acute cochlear neuritis
In the case of an acute form of the disease, the symptoms develop gradually. Usually they are stored for a period of no more than 30 days. Signs of acute neuritis are:
- Top plugs in the ears that periodically disappear.
- Persistent hearing loss.
- Hearing loss.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.
Chronic cochlear neuritis
If the acute form of the disease is not treated, it becomes chronic. In this case, cochlear neuritis, the treatment of which is important to start on time,may progress to a stage characterized by the slow development of the following symptoms:
- gradual hearing loss;
- gradually increasing tinnitus occurring simultaneously with hearing loss;
- complete lack of ability to hear over time.
There are several more varieties of the disease, each of which has its own characteristics.
Other forms of the disease
As a rule, the forms of neuritis described above eventually lead to the development of other diseases. These include:
- Infectious neuritis that develops when the acute stage of the disease manifests itself due to an infection that has entered the body. Influenza, mumps, typhoid fever, malaria can provoke the development of pathology.
- Toxic neuritis, which occurs when toxins enter the human body. This disease develops gradually, but its occurrence in the body is accompanied by nausea, vomiting and other unpleasant disorders of the digestive system. It is usually bilateral cochlear neuritis, meaning it affects both ears.
So that the disease does not become incurable and does not provoke a complete hearing loss, it must be detected in time. And for this it is necessary to understand the causes of the pathology.
Causes of cochlear neuritis
In the international classification of diseases, that is, the ICD, cochlear neuritis is recorded at number 10 and refers to pathologies of the ear and mastoid process. There are many causes known in medicine.occurrence:
- Viral infections.
- Infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria or typhoid.
- Poisoning the body with heavy metals or antibiotics that are used in the treatment of other diseases.
- Injuries sustained in everyday life or while working in severe physical conditions.
- Recently transferred purulent otitis.
- Recently had meningogenic labyrinthitis.
- Inner ear circulation problems.
- Disturbances in the overall functioning of the body associated with abnormal or slow metabolism.
- Diabetes. With him, neuritis is a complication.
- Heredity.
- Stress and nervous strain.
- Allergic reactions.
- Tumours.
- Age-related changes in the body.
- Sensory hearing loss, that is, a pathology that occurs without a specific reason.
The last factor is often found in young people. It is very dangerous because it can lead to a complete lack of hearing. Hearing loss should be discussed in more detail.
Sensory hearing loss
This disease proceeds like a normal cochlear neuritis of the auditory nerve, but has no definite cause. Symptoms, treatment and diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss are the same as those of neuritis. However, the complexity of the pathology lies in the fact that it is extremely rare for a person to see a doctor on time.
This is due to the fact that there are no certain reasons and prerequisites foroccurrence of the disease. In order not to lose your hearing, for any problems associated with the ears, you must immediately contact an otolaryngologist and undergo appropriate treatment. Remember that irreversible complications can begin in the body at any time, so do not neglect going to the hospital. Every day can be decisive.
Diagnosis of cochlear neuritis
Visual changes in the anatomy of the auditory nerve do not occur, so a routine examination will not help the doctor determine the presence of the disease. To identify cochlear neuritis, the following activities are carried out:
- Detailed questioning of the patient, which concerns not only problems with the ears, but also unexpected symptoms associated with diseases of other body systems.
- Tuning fork test.
- Tonal threshold audiometry.
After the diagnosis is made, treatment is started immediately, which may include many activities.
Treatment of cochlear neuritis
Cochlear neuritis of the auditory nerve, the treatment of which is prescribed by an otolaryngologist, can be overcome quickly enough if you correctly approach this issue. It is worth noting that if the disease is acquired, and not inherited, it cannot be completely eliminated. You can only stop the process of hearing loss, because the nerve tissue of the ear is damaged and unable to recover. So, activities that help cure cochlear neuritis:
- Taking pharmaceutical drugs that improve metabolism andblood exchange.
- Vitamins, mainly B group.
- If a viral infection provoked neuritis, then antiviral or antibacterial drugs are prescribed.
- Taking pharmaceutical diuretics.
- Permanent drinking.
- Intravenous administration of glucose into the body.
- Acupuncture.
- Injection of hormones into the tympanic cavity.
- Reception of funds that dilate blood vessels.
However, the attending physician may independently prescribe additional procedures that, in his opinion, will positively affect the condition of the auditory nerve. Folk remedies have also been developed to treat this disease.
Treatment of congenital disease
If cochlear neuritis is not acquired, but inherited, then it can be cured only with the help of surgery. In this case, you should contact a good surgeon who has extensive experience. The operation is quite expensive, so prepare in advance for the fact that you will have to spend a round sum of money. In addition, this method is used with special implants, which also require a financial investment.
Folk treatments for cochlear neuritis
Folk methods of treating the disease are effective only with simultaneous treatment with medications. Without them, attempts to cure the disease may be fruitless. Folk remedies include:
- Decoction of hops. It should be drunk 200 ml per day, previouslywarm up.
- Stop the process of hearing loss will help a few drops of almond oil in the ear three times a day. In this case, manipulations must be carried out alternately. One day - with one ear, the second day - with the other. It is necessary to carry out treatment in this way for a month, after which you should take a break for a month and start the second course of treatment.
- Hot sand packs are great for warming the ears.
- Spread one-fourth of a lemon, along with the rind, into 3 servings a day to boost your metabolism.
- Instead of the usual traditional tea, make a drink from red rose petals.
- Propolis tincture with alcohol mixed with olive oil will help stop the development of pathology if you soak a cotton pad in it and insert it into your ears for a while.
In addition to the above methods, physical exercises will help in the fight against cochlear neuritis of the auditory nerve. They need to be performed regularly, without neglecting the technique. In addition, exercise should also be combined with medical treatment.
Physical education as a means of treatment
Physical exercises for the treatment of cochlear neuritis are aimed at stimulating the nerves in the ears. They do not completely eliminate the pathology, but they help stop the process of hearing loss. Drug exposure in combination with folk remedies and physical exercises will save you from the inevitable loss of the ability to hear in the absence of treatment. Do the following exercises:
- Press your palms firmly to your ears. But don't go overboard with the intensity.
- SlightlyTap your index finger on the back of your head. The sound you hear should resemble the sound of a drum.
- Press your palms firmly to your ears and remove them very quickly. Do this exercise 12 times.
- Insert your index fingers into your ears, but not too deep. Twist them lightly and quickly remove.
These exercises should be done in strict sequence with no breaks in between. Perform manipulations in accordance with the instructions, strictly observing the technique. In addition, regularity in treatment is important. Repeat these exercises every day. If you have the opportunity, give them time in the morning and before bed.
But a much better option is to prevent disease. Prevention measures will help you not only not experience hearing problems, but also prevent the development of other serious pathologies.
Prevention of cochlear auditory neuritis
Prevention of this disease, basically, comes down to preventing or promptly eliminating the causes of its occurrence. So, preventive measures include:
- Timely detection and proper treatment of infectious and viral diseases. It is especially important to treat pathologies of the upper respiratory tract in time.
- If you work in hazardous or hazardous environments, use every possible protection. Do not neglect special clothing, a mask, or taking antitoxic agents. If you have symptoms of auditory neuritis, you should immediately change the type of activity.
- Periodically undergo an examination by an otolaryngologist in order to identify the prerequisites for the onset of the disease in time.
- If you have a hereditary predisposition to pathology, then take the preventive drugs prescribed by the doctor.
Thus, the prevention of this disease consists of simple actions, by performing which, you can prevent irreversible consequences that contribute to poor he alth.
Can tinnitus go away on its own?
People who experience tinnitus discomfort most often wait patiently for it to go away without medical intervention. They can really disappear without a trace, but only if the nature of this phenomenon is not associated with cochlear neuritis. Doctors recommend not to risk your he alth, but to be examined by an otolaryngologist to make sure that nothing threatens your body.
Special attention should be paid to high-frequency noise, because it is he who speaks of the development of neuritis. If the hum in the ears is mid-frequency or low-frequency, then this is most likely otitis media or a common cork. But if you hear something resembling a squeak, then do not hesitate to visit the doctor.
Recovery of hearing after the end of treatment
If the disease has been going on for a long time, it is unfortunately impossible to restore hearing after the end of treatment. In this case, one of the following events is assigned:
- Wearing hearingdevice. You can not buy and install it yourself. Your hearing aid should be fitted by a professional.
- Implantation, which involves the installation of special equipment in the ear cavity. After the operation, rehabilitation is required, which takes place in accordance with the statement of the attending physician.
These methods artificially return hearing to a person. But if the neuritis did not have time to completely capture the ear cavity, then it is necessary to stop the process of hearing loss. To do this, every six months, the patient undergoes a special course of treatment prescribed by an otolaryngologist.
Thus, cochlear neuritis of the auditory nerve is a complex disease that must be treated in a timely manner to prevent complete hearing loss.
