Catarrhal Deafness

 Catarrhal Deafness in children --

In children, tonsillitis, adenoids, frequent colds, the childhood diseases with ear complications, such as abscesses, and more especially the two diseases, measles and scarlet fever, are the commonest causes  of deafness. These affections sometimes result in "chronic running ears" which often seriously affects the hearing.

Catarrhal Deafness in adults --

Most cases of deafness, however, occur in middle aged or elderly people. The usual factors here are chronic sinus disease, infected tonsils, and obstructions in the nose.  These conditions result in frequent colds and chronic congestion about the tube of the middle ear which often leads to permanent injury and to partial or complete deafness.

 Catarrhal Deafness prevention in children --

Chronically diseased tonsils and adenoids should be removed and "running ears" treated by a specialist. Take every precaution possible to avoid common colds and all the childhood diseases. It certainly a mistaken and dangerous idea to think that it is better for children to have the childhood diseases as early as possible. On the contrary, make every effort to put  them off until adolescence; and to avoid them altogether is certainly best.

 Catarrhal Deafness Prevention in Adults --

Of course, as in children, diseased tonsils and adenoids and "running ears" should be corrected. Any obstruction in the nose (the bony partition of the nose is often enlarged or bent to one side) which interferes with normal breathing, should be removed, any sinus disease corrected by the proper treatments. Various sprays and gargles are practically without value as far as curing the defective hearing is concerned and are often harmful.

Catarrhal Deafness Symptoms in Childhood --

In early years there often occurs a chronic discharge from the Tvhich may be so slight as to pass unnoticed but which results in gradual loss of hearing. Inattention at school, or poor grades, are  sometimes the direct result of partial deafness. Careful tests at regular intervals during school will reveal any abnormalities of hearing.

 Catarrhal Deafness Symptoms in Adults --

Catarrhal deafness is found very commonly in elderly people. Buzzing, ringing, or a stuffy feeling in the ears with marked loss of hearing are the usual complaints.  There is frequently associated with this condition, "catarrh" chronic colds, sinus trouble, tonillitis, and irritation of the nose and throat.

 Catarrhal Deafness Treatment

The principal curative treatments are: removal of the tonsils, adenoids, and obstructions in the nose, and treatment of the sinus infection or ear discharge until a cure is effected. Inflation of the middle ear tubes (Eustachian) by forcing air into the middle ear, as well as vibratory massage of the ear drum have proved to be of some value. Such treatment as outlined here results in marked improvement in the child's hearing, sometimes  restoring  it to normal; but is not always so effective in the middle aged or old, the "cure" depending somewhat on the severity and nature of the Injury already done. Sprays, gargles, or other remedies, either internal or external, are practically valueless.