1. Tuberculosis can spread to various organs in the body, including the ears. Research has shown a link between TB and decreased hearing thresholds. People with both TB and exposure to loud noises are at higher risk of hearing loss. 2. Patients being treated for multi-drug resistant TB with certain antibiotic drugs like aminoglycosides and capreomycin are at risk of permanent sensorineural hearing loss caused by the ototoxic effects of these drugs. 3. While HIV itself does not cause hearing loss, people with HIV aged 35 and older who take ototoxic antiretroviral drugs have a higher risk of developing sensorineural hearing loss. HIV can also increase the risk of middle ear disorders and

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Hearing Loss
 Is the deafness; partial or complete loss of hearing.
Types of hearing loss
 Conductive hearing loss- occurs in the outer and inner
ear.
 Sensorineural hearing loss- occurs in the inner ear and
involves the central nervous system.
The Effects of Tuberculosis and Hearing
Loss
What is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis commonly known as TB is a contagious airborne
disease. It is mostly found in lungs, but can also spread
through the lymph nodes and bloodstream, thus going to any
organ in the human body (such as ears, kidneys, brain, the
spinal cord etc).
The Relationship between Hearing Loss and Tuberculosis
Research has shown that very little has been reported on the
link between TB ill patients and hearing loss. Current studies
from the Brits which compares the hearing of gold miners
with and without TB and the effects TB has on human health.
The results show the relationship between TB and the
decrease in in hearing threshold. People who are mostly
exposed to noise due to working environment, loud music,

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and other contributing factors and are also having TB
demonstrate a high risk/result of poorer hearing threshold.
According to the medical professionals from the faculty of
Health of Stellenbosch; patients who are on treatment of
multi-drug-resistant (MDR) TB may be at the risk of
permanent hearing loss (sensorineural hearing loss).
Thishearing loss is caused by the drugs. They said patients
who were on treatment used antibiotic drugs known as
Aminoglycosides and a drug named Capreomycin, which
were effective for treating MDR-TB.
Although this treatment had after effects such as damaging
kidneys, hearing and the balance function of the ear and
ototoxicity. Aminoglycosides which were taken for six
months by ill patients were known to persist in the inner
ear.Other drugs like Streptomycin are highly ototoxic.
Despite other factors which mayinfluence hearing loss such
as human susceptibility, age working environment and
gender, aminoglycosides and streptomycin which show high
ototoxity both affect the ear. These drugs affect the cochlear
structure of the inner ear. They kill the outer hair cells first
then followed by the inner hair cells, thus resulting in
sensorineural hearing loss.

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Normal human ear (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AHumanEar.jpg)
TB picture http://www.nature.com/nri/journal/v5/n8/fig_tab/nri1666_F1.html

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The Effects of HIV/AIDS and Hearing Loss
What is HIV/AIDS?
AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is a disease
caused by a virus called HIV (human Immune Virus). The
illness compromises the immune system and can attack any
cell since it is a virus thus resulting in people being vulnerable
to diseases and illnesses
HIV grows or found in body fluids of an infected person
(semen and vaginal fluids, blood and breast milk). The virus is
contracted from one person to another via blood-to-blood
and sexual contact.
The Relationship between Hearing Loss and HIV
There have been several reports of hearing loss problems
affecting HIV people. In mine industries is between 21% and
49% of infected patients showing sensorineural hearing loss
which involves higher frequencies. There is no proof
/evidence that the HIV virus causes or speeds up hearing loss.
Although it has been said that people who are infected by
the virus, aged 35 and above and taking anti-HIV drugs
(ototoxic drugs) are more likely to experience hearing loss.
Since HIV compromises our immune and can attack any cells
of the body and it is also found in the blood; a lot of illnesses
develop due to the presence this virus. Such diseases include

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otitis media (middle ear disorder), conductive and
sensorineural hearing loss.
There has been a higher reported incidence of
nasopharyngeal polyps and subcutaneous cysts in patients
with HIV. Nasopharyngeal masses can occlude (block)the
Eustachian tube and block ventilation which may result in the
development of chronic otitis media.
Ways of preventing hearing loss
 The best method of preventing hearing loss is through
education
 Health promotion
 Hearing programmes and awareness

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Conclusion
In conclusion to what I have said; conductive hearing loss can
be reversible/medically treated while sensorineual hearing
loss is irreversible and permanent yet it can be prevented.

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References
HIV In Pregnancy Increases Risk For Hearing Loss In Offspring
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/246891.php
(accessed 03 June2013)
Eisler, R. (2003). Health risks of gold miners: A synoptic review.
Environmental
Geochemistry and Health, 25(3), 325-345.
AngloGold Ashanti. (2006, 2007, 2008). Annual report, report to
society 2006, 2007, 2008.
http://www.anglogold.com/subwebs/InformationForInvestors/Repor
ts06/ReportToSociety06/d (accessed o3 June 2013)
Scott, G.S., & Layton, T. (2000). Human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) infection in children. In T. Layton, E. Crais, & L. Watson
(Eds.), Handbook of Early Language Impairments in Children:
Nature (pp.317-353). Albany: Delmar Publishers
Zuniga, J. (1999, April). Communication disorders and HIV
disease. Journal of the International Association of Physicians in
AIDS Care, 5 (4): 16-23