Cochlear neuritis of the auditory nerve

Cochlear neuritis of the auditory nerve is a disease that affects the inner ear. As a result, a person ceases to hear sounds well.

Symptoms of the disease

Cochlear neuritis, the symptoms of which are manifested in different forms, is both acute and chronic. Common signs of the disease are:

• Sharp deterioration of hearing.
• The 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 either in 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 symptoms develop gradually. Usually they are saved for a period not exceeding 30 days. The signs of acute neuritis are as follows:

• Traffic in the ears, which periodically disappear.
• A persistent decline in the ability to hear.
• Hearing loss.

If you have these symptoms, you should immediately call your doctor.

Chronic cochlear neuritis

If the acute form of the disease is not treated, it becomes chronic. In this case, cochlear neuritis, whose treatment is important to start on time, can go through a stage that is characterized by a slow development of the following symptoms:

• Gradual hearing loss;
• Gradually increasing noise in the ears, arising simultaneously with the loss of the ability to hear;
• Complete lack of ability to hear with 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 above forms of neuritis with time lead to the development of other diseases. They include:

• Infectious neuritis, which develops when the acute stage of the disease is manifested due to an infection that has got into the body. Provoke the development of pathology can influenza, mumps, typhoid, malaria.
• Toxic neuritis, which occurs when toxins enter the human body. This disease develops gradually, but its appearance in the body is accompanied by nausea, vomiting and other unpleasant disorders of the digestive system. This, as a rule, bilateral cochlear neuritis, that is, it affects both ears.

That the disease does not become incurable and does not provoke a complete loss of hearing, it must be identified 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 the pathologies of the ear and mastoid process. In medicine, there are many reasons for its occurrence:

• Viral infections.
• Infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, malaria or typhoid.
• Poisoning the body with heavy metals or antibiotics, which are used in the treatment of other diseases.
• Received in everyday life or when working in severe physical conditions, trauma.
• Recently transferred purulent otitis.
• Recently carried the meningogenic labyrinthitis.
• Problems with the circulation of the blood of the inner ear.
• Violations of the overall functioning of the body, associated with improper or slow metabolism.
• Diabetes. With it, neuritis is a complication.
• Heredity.
• Stress and nerve strain.
• Allergic reactions.
• Tumors.
• Age changes in the body.
• Sensorineural deafness, that is, a pathology that occurs without a specific cause.

The latter factor is often found in young people. It is very dangerous, as it can lead to total absence of hearing. About hearing loss should be discussed in more detail.

Sensorineural hearing loss

This disease occurs as a normal cochlear neuritis of the auditory nerve, but has no definite cause. Symptoms, treatment and diagnosis of neurosensory hearing loss are the same as those of neuritis. However, the complexity of the pathology is that it is extremely rare for a person to consult a doctor on time.

This is due to the fact that there are no definite reasons and prerequisites for the onset of the disease. In order not to lose the ear, for any problems related to the ears, you must immediately contact the otolaryngologist and undergo appropriate treatment. Remember that at any time in the body can begin irreversible complications, so do not neglect a hike 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, such events are held:

• A detailed questioning of the patient, which concerns not only problems with the ears, but also unexpectedly arising symptoms associated with diseases of other body systems.
• Camerontal test.
• Tonal threshold audiometry.

After the diagnosis is made, a treatment is immediately prescribed, which can include a variety of activities.

Treatment of cochlear neuritis

Cochlear neuritis of the auditory nerve, whose treatment is prescribed by an otolaryngologist, can be overcome quickly enough if you approach this question wisely. It should be noted that if the disease is acquired, and not received by inheritance, it can not be completely eliminated. You can only stop the process of hearing impairment, because the ear's ear tissue is damaged and unable to recover. So, the activities that help to cure cochlear neuritis:

• Receiving pharmaceuticals that improve metabolism and blood circulation.
• Vitamins, mainly related to group B.
• If neuritis has provoked a viral infection, then drugs that are antiviral or antibacterial are prescribed.
• Reception of pharmaceutical diuretics.
• Constant copious drink.
• Intravenous introduction of glucose into the body.
• Acupuncture.
• Introduction of hormones into the tympanum.
• The reception of funds that dilate blood vessels.

However, the attending physician can independently prescribe additional procedures, which, he believes, will positively affect the state of the auditory nerve. Folk remedies for the treatment of this disease have also been developed.

Treatment of congenital disease

If the cochlear neuritis is not acquired, but transmitted by inheritance, then it can be cured only through surgical intervention. In this case, you should refer to a good surgeon who has extensive experience. The operation is quite expensive, so be prepared in advance for spending a round sum of money. In addition, this method is used with the participation of special implants, which also require financial investment.

Folk methods of treatment of cochlear neuritis

Folk methods of treating the disease are effective only with simultaneous treatment with medications. Without them, attempts to cure the disease can be fruitless. The folk remedies include:

• Broth of hops. It should be drunk at 200 ml per day, preheating.
• Stop the process of hearing loss will help a few drops of almond oil in your ear three times a day. In this case, the manipulation must be done alternately. One day - with one ear, the second day - with another. To conduct treatment in this way it is necessary within a month, after which to make a monthly break and begin the second course of treatment.
• Compresses made from hot sand warm your ears perfectly.
• Spread one fourth of the lemon together with the crust for 3 doses per day to speed up the metabolism.
• Instead of the usual traditional tea, brew a drink from the petals of a red rose.
• Tincture of propolis on alcohol, mixed with olive oil, will help stop the development of pathology if you moisten a cotton disc in it and insert it into your ears for a while.

In addition to the above methods, in the fight against cochlear neuritis auditory nerve will help exercise. They need to be done regularly, without neglecting the technique. In addition, physical exercises also need to be combined with treatment with medications.

Physical training 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 relieve the pathology at all, but help to stop the process of hearing loss. Drug treatment combined with folk remedies and physical exercises will relieve you of the inevitable in the absence of treatment of the loss of the ability to hear. Do the following exercises:

• Strongly press your hands to your ears. But do not overdo it with intensity.
• Lightly tap with your index finger on the occipital part of the head. The sound that you hear should resemble the sound of the drum.
• Strongly press your hands to your ears and remove them very quickly. Do this exercise 12 times.
• Insert your index fingers into your ears, but not too deep. Slightly twist them and quickly remove.

These exercises need to be done in strict sequence without interruptions between them. Carry out the 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 bedtime.

But a much better option is to prevent the disease. Prevention measures will help you not only not to experience hearing problems, but also to prevent the development of other serious pathologies.

Prevention of cochlear auditory neuritis

Prevention of this disease, basically, is to prevent or timely eliminate the causes of its appearance. So, preventive measures include:

• Timely detection and proper treatment of infectious and viral diseases. It is especially important to treat the pathologies of the upper respiratory tract in time.
• If you work in harmful or dangerous conditions, use all possible ways of protection. Do not neglect special clothing, mask or the use of anti-toxic agents. If you experience symptoms of auditory neuritis, you must immediately change the type of activity.
• Periodically undergo an examination with an otolaryngologist, in time to identify the prerequisites for the onset of the disease.
• If you have a hereditary predisposition to pathology, then take preventive medications prescribed by the doctor.

Thus, the prevention of this disease consists of simple actions, by fulfilling which, it is possible to prevent irreversible consequences that contribute to deterioration of health.

Can the noise in the ears go by yourself?

People who experience discomfort associated with noise in the ears, often wait patiently, when they will pass without medical intervention. They can really disappear without a trace, but only if the nature of this phenomenon is not related to cochlear neuritis. Doctors recommend not to risk their health, but to undergo an examination with an otolaryngologist to make sure that your body is not threatened.

Particular attention should be paid to high-frequency noise, because it is he who speaks about the development of neuritis. If the buzzing in the ears is mid-frequency or low-frequency, it is most likely otitis or an ordinary plug. But if you hear something resembling a squeak, then do not hesitate to visit the doctor.

Hearing recovery after treatment

If the disease has been taking place for a long time, it is unfortunately impossible to restore hearing after the end of treatment. In this case, one of the following activities is assigned:

• Wearing a hearing aid. You can not buy and install it yourself. A professional specialist should set up the hearing aid.
• Implantation, which involves the establishment of special equipment in the ear canal. After the operation, rehabilitation is required, which is carried out in accordance with the discharge of the attending physician.

These methods artificially return the hearing to a person. But if the neuritis did not manage to completely grasp the ear cavity, then it is necessary to stop the process of hearing loss. For this, every six months the patient undergoes a special course of treatment appointed 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 loss of hearing.