For years, we’ve been warned about the damaging effects of loud music on our hearing. From the blaring beats at concerts to the ear-piercing volume of headphones, we’ve been told that if we don’t turn down the volume, we’ll end up with permanent hearing loss. While it’s true that loud music can cause damage to our ears, it’s not always the cause of hearing loss. In fact, many people are surprised to find that their hearing loss has nothing to do with the music they listen to. One woman’s story highlights how misconceptions about the causes of hearing loss can lead to incorrect diagnoses and ineffective treatments.
Marlene Schultz was a 47-year-old accountant from Pennsylvania who began experiencing difficulties hearing. She consulted an ear, nose, and throat specialist who diagnosed her with low-frequency hearing loss in both ears and advised her to use hearing aids due to listening to loud music. Despite feeling upset, Schultz decided to explore other options and saw an allergist, an endocrinologist, and another ear, nose, and throat specialist over 18 months. These specialists discovered that she had vasomotor rhinitis and an enlarged thyroid but were unable to determine the cause of her hearing issues. Eventually, Schultz spoke with her cousin, an ENT in Boston, who advised her to seek help from a specialist at Penn Medicine. Schultz met with Douglas Bigelow, who ordered new hearing tests and diagnosed her with otosclerosis. This condition causes hearing loss resulting from abnormal bone growth in the middle ear, affecting the smallest bone in the body. Conductive hearing loss, which is surgically treatable, is a common symptom of otosclerosis, and Bigelow performed stapedectomy surgeries on Schultz’s ears. Schultz’s quality of life improved significantly following the surgeries.
In conclusion, it is important to understand that hearing loss is a complex issue that can be caused by various factors. While loud music is often blamed for causing hearing loss, there are many other factors to consider, such as genetics, age, and exposure to other environmental factors. It is crucial that we take steps to protect our hearing, such as wearing earplugs in loud environments and getting regular hearing checks. By understanding the true causes of hearing loss, we can take proactive steps to prevent it and ensure that our hearing remains healthy for years to come.
