By Deborah Bamisaye
‘Your ears are small, but they carry the power to connect you to the world.’
So far in these series and from the roof top, it is now a great advice that: “A quiet damage to the ears is often the loudest mistake anyone could make,” and that, “Good hearing is a gift – no one should waste it on any loud noise.”
Prof. Mala Sandabe, Chief Consultant Otolaryngologist at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, highlights that ear infections and untreated upper respiratory illnesses can damage hearing – especially in children and warns about medications that may harm the ear if misused.
Dr. Ogugua Osiogbu, a geriatrician in Abuja, points out that wax buildup and untreated ear problems are common causes of hearing loss in older adults, and stresses the need for affordable hearing aids and regular checkups.
These Nigerian professionals have highlighted two key things:
1. Prevention matters most – especially avoiding loud noise and seeking help early.
2. Hearing loss is widespread in Nigeria and often worsened by limited access to specialist care.
Followers of these series already know that, hearing loss happens when there’s damage to one or more parts of the hearing system: the outer ear, middle ear, inner ear, auditory nerve, or brain. Causes can be temporary or permanent to one ear or both. Imagine for a split second, the agony of being deaf – ‘Not hearing a thing!’ Horrible? It is so unimaginable, right?
Another set of questions we should be asking ourselves would be: ‘Apart from loud noise at worship houses or places of events, are there other causes?’ And if it is a temporary damage, what could be done to recover?
Now, let’s take them, one-by-one. First, we start with other causes.
Other Main Causes include:
1. Aging (Presbycusis)
– As we age, the inner ear gradually deteriorates.
– Usually affects both ears.
– Makes high-pitched sounds harder to hear.
– Common after age
2. Infections
– Ear infections (especially in children.)
– Viral infections (like measles, mumps, meningitis.)
– Chronic untreated infections can cause permanent damage.
3. Genetic Causes
– Some people are born with hearing loss or develop it later due to inherited conditions.
4. Medications (Ototoxic Drugs)
Certain drugs can damage hearing, including:
– Some antibiotics
– Chemotherapy drugs
– High doses of aspirin
– Certain diuretics
5. Head Injury or Trauma
– Skull fractures
– Concussions
– Sudden pressure changes (barotrauma)
6. Earwax Blockage
– A buildup of wax can temporarily block sound.
7. Structural Problems
– Damage to the eardrum
– Problems with tiny middle-ear bones
Tumors (rare)
8. Medical Conditions
– Diabetes
– High blood pressure
– Autoimmune diseases
– Stroke
Types of Hearing Loss:
a. Conductive – Problem in outer or middle ear.
b. Sensorineural – Damage to inner ear or nerve (most common permanent type.)
c. Mixed – Combination of both.
Let us concentrate on the conductive one, as a permanent damage is irreversible. So, if this type of damage occurs, what can be done to reverse it?
How to recover from TTS faster:
Rest helps Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS) recover naturally, usually within 16-48 hours, by giving overworked hair cells time to reset.
Steps to Recovery
Avoid all loud noises immediately after exposure – move to quiet areas, skip music or services, and use earplugs if needed outdoors. Get plenty of sleep (8-10 hours), stay hydrated, and eat anti-inflammatory foods like fruits, veggies, and omega-3s (e.g., fish) to support ear repair.
Speed It Up
Gentle blood flow aids healing: take short walks in silence or use warm compresses on ears for 10-15 minutes.
Avoid caffeine/alcohol, which can dehydrate, and consider over-the-counter antioxidants like vitamin E if advised by a doctor – though rest remains most effective. Full recovery prevents it from turning permanent, so monitor for ongoing ringing.
Noise-induced hearing loss is preventable. Your hearing is priceless, protect it like a treasure that it really is. Don’t be Loud today, silent tomorrow because once hearing is lost, it rarely returns – choose your level of noise wisely.
You should not be surprised that I have now embraced a new principle – ‘Volume down, life up!’
Are you in? I bet you are!
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