Reference no: EM133296059

Abe was good with his hands and with math. Wanting to combine these skills, he entered a vocational program to become a precision machinist, a well-paying job that was in high demand. He greatly enjoyed his work, but by the time he reached his 40s, he noticed that he was having trouble understanding other people. At first, his doctor suspected that the common presbycusis attributable to aging had set in early. But further tests revealed that the hearing loss occurred across a wider range of frequencies than is typical of that disorder. When he mentioned that he worked in a machine shop, he was ordered to start using ear protectors and was fitted with a hearing aid that he was instructed to remove or to turn off while in the shop. By his mid 50s, Abe needed two hearing aids, and by his late 60s, even they did little good. It had been too late.

1. Since he did not have Presbycusis, what was it that caused Abe's hearing loss?

2. What structures in the auditory pathway might possibly be involved?

3. What similar situations in your own life might contribute to possible similar future problems for you?

4. What specific steps can you take to avoid the same fate that was experienced by Abe?