Dr. Anuja Rajendra Sonawane
Audiology
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
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Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I had meningitis fever when I was 7 years old because of which my hearing capacity was lost. I use hearing aids and I can hear from hearing aid, but it is hard to listen. One of the doctors said that I have bones issues, and I need to consult with a rheumatologist. But it is hard for me to understand.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
The main problem with meningitis is that it is an infection which causes irreversible damage. As far as knowledge goes, there are not many cases who benefitted with the hearing. The cochlea is the hearing organ of the human body. It has three partitions filled with fluid. When hearing loss is caused by meningitis, the cochlea begins to ossify (the canals in cochlea start turning into bone). Thus the sound vibrations are not able to reach the auditory nerve. Usually, the loss is permanent.
If you already wear hearing aids and now having a problem with understanding the speech, you need to see an audiologist and recheck your hearing as it might have progressed. If the loss has increased, please reprogram your hearing aids. If it has not changed, then you need to practice communication perception techniques. A speech therapist can help you with the techniques to improve communication. There are few techniques for better communication, but as you have not mentioned, I am not familiar with what method you use. I feel you should have discussed the problem in detail so that I could have helped you more with techniques. Do not hesitate to contact me.
Patient's Query
Thank you doctor,
I wear hearing aids, and I understand I have a speech problem. But another thing is when I fix my ears from ears wax remover pins then hearing increases a little bit. I can listen when someone speaks loudly. I also have a joint problem, and so I cannot sit on the ground because it causes too much pain. I use chairs to sit, but I can walk perfectly. One of the doctors told me that I need to consult with a rheumatologist because joints are connected with ears, is it true?
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
First of all, I will warn you not to use pins to clean your ears at all. If the pin damages your membrane, the ear might get infected, and the hearing loss may increase. It seems that you have wax in your ears. Please consult an ENT or audiologist to clean your ears. Yes, he can clear your joint pains. However, there are no proven cases which have been treated for meningitis by consulting a rheumatologist.
Patient's Query
Thank you doctor,
What are the further needed tests? Can it be due to autoimmunity because I have joint pains as well?
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
You should visit audiologist once a year for a checkup. At the age of 7 it is difficult to know that you have an autoimmune disorder. It is a viral infection, so there are low chances of autoimmune at the young age.
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Audiology
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