Lecture 24; Inner ear disease part one Flashcards
What does data indicate about people under 25?
That 50% of people under 35 have experienced tinnitus which is representative of hearing loss / damage, after listening to loud music.
If sensory cells are damaged, can they repair?
No, they cant regenerate.
What percentage of the world population has a disabling hearing loss?
2%
What percent of the population have a hearing impairment?
10%
What percent of the population suffer from other hearing disorders?
20%
- Tinnitus
- Menieres disease.
What are the types of hearing loss?
1) Conductive hearing loss
2) Sensorneural hearing loss
3) Auditory Processing Disorders
What are the causes of sensorneural hearing loss?
- Genetic disorders
- Infection / Inflammation
- Trauma
- Ageing
- Intense sounds (temp or perm)
- Ototoxic drugs
Describe the incidence of congenital hearing loss and its consequences?
- 2-3 per 100 children
Consequences;
- Poor language and behavioural development
- Lower literacy and academic achievements
What is the main cause of congenital hearing loss?
- Genetic factors are thought to cause more than 50% of congenital hearing loss
- 100+ genes identified as underlying cause of deafness.
Otherwise intrauterine infections; Cytomeagly virus, herpes simplex virus, hypoxia, maternal drug / alcohol use
How can the inner ear become infected?
- Spread of bacteria/virus (infection) from the middle ear (otitis media) to the inner ear.
- Can cause direct tissue injury to the inner ear or nerve as a consequence of infection / inflammation
- Meningitis is also a source of inner ear inflammation and results from infection through the CSF
Describe how inflammation/ infection can cause acquired hearing loss;
The inner ear can rapidly mount an inflammatory response which can cause bystander tissue injury
The inflammatory response can damage delicate structures of the inner ear and cause permanent hearing loss
What are the most common causes of acquired hearing loss?
- Presbyacusis
- Noise Trauma
- Ototoxic drugs
What is the common feature of pathology in acquired hearing loss?
The loss of sensory cells
- Particular OHC are sensitive to damage
- Once lost are replaced by scar tissue formed by supporting cells
Auditory nerves degenerate
- Loss of afferent neurons
- takes time
- Once lost the picture of sensorneural hearing loss is complete.
What are the common functional features of drug, noise and age related hearing loss?
- Initial loss of basal cells and high frequencies (especially for drug and age)
- Noise related hearing loss depends on the frequency of noise trauma.
Whats the incidence of noise induced hearing loss;
- Most common occupational disease in industry and military
- Leisure activites i.e clubbing will cause this in young people
- Predicted to affect 25% of people by 2050
Describe the types of noise induced hearing loss on the cochlea
Depending on the db and duration it can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss
Temporary recovers within 24 hrs to 7 days
Permanent hearing loss is associated with sensory cell and nerve damage.
Describe the impact of noise trauma on the OHC?
- First likely place of damage is the stereocilia of the OHC
- Mechanical forces on these stereocilia from the tectorali membrane can cause tip links / stereocilia to damage, can lead to upregulation of apoptotic pathways in the OHC and thus permanent damage
Describe the impact of noise trauma on the IHC?
IHC auditory synapse is susceptible to excitotoxicity from glutamate. Can also cause damage to spiral ganglion neurons, resulting in swelling etc
Describe the impact of noise trauma on the supporting cells?
Pillar cells can buckle and pressure and the organ of corti can collapse
Describe the impact of noise trauma on the stria vasulcaris / lateral wall?
Important for K secretion and maintenance of the endocochlear potential.
Can swell after noise exposure and then can be followed by atrophy. Reducing its functions.