Hollywood actor Ashton Kutcher has revealed to Bear Grylls that he was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disorder nearly two years ago that left him unable to hear for a period of time, and that took him a year to recover from.
The condition, called Vasculitis, means inflammation in the blood cells, and causes swelling in the body in order to help the body deal with invading germs or infection. Patients with vasculitis can be affected by hearing loss, tinnitus, and even vertigo.
Below, Katie Ogden, Audiologist and Training Manager for hearing aid provider ReSound North-West Europe, offers up some expert insight into hearing loss and tinnitus that those suffering from Vasculitis may experience once the condition develops:
Hearing Loss
Untreated hearing loss can have many negative consequences, such as a decline in general health, emotional well being, and social isolation.
If you suspect that you or someone you know may be experiencing hearing loss, there are some key signs to look out for:
Asking you to repeat yourself
Complaining that others are ‘mumbling’ when attempting to converse with them
Having difficulty during phone conversations
Listening to the TV/Radio at a much louder volume than they used to
Appearing more withdrawn or quiet than before
Experiencing exhaustion after they’ve socialised
Tinnitus
Tinnitus is when a person can hear a noise that no one else can hear with no external source of the sound. This means that only you can hear the sound and there is nothing external to the human body making the noise.
There is no set rule about what that sound will be with the following being the most common:
A low pitch humming sound
A high pitch whistle
Buzzing
Clicking
Hissing
Throbbing
Music
Tinnitus can often be a chronic condition where it affects a person every day of their life, it can also be temporary and intermittent meaning it can be unpredictable to live with.
Tinnitus can be very distracting and prevent people from being able to concentrate which in turn is very frustrating, it is often associated with insomnia and can contribute to issues with mental health such as anxiety, stress and depression.
There is no clear cause for tinnitus only theories of possibilities, this is why there is no cure. Remember this is a sound that no one else can hear, which means no one else can prove if it is even happening, nor can anyone prove it isn’t happening. This makes tinnitus an incredibly complex condition but also a very unique condition to the person who is trying to live with it.
While there is currently no known cure, there are many methods, tactics and strategies that can enable a sufferer to successfully manage their condition. These include:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapies (CBT)
Mindfulness
Meditation
Reducing stress
Relaxation therapies
Tinnitus Retraining Therapies (TRT)
Seeking help and treating hearing loss or tinnitus can not only improve the lives and general wellbeing of those suffering, but also those around them, having a dramatically positive effect on their social relationships.
That’s why if you recognise a number of these signs in yourself or your loved ones, it’s time to seek the help of a professional audiologist.
