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Types Of Hearing Loss

TYPES OF HEARING LOSS

Hearing loss is far more common than many might realize, with over 10% of the US population experiencing a difficulty with their hearing ability. Despite how prevalent it is, hearing loss affects individuals in a variety of different ways, and is described using degrees rather than percentages.

Individuals affected by hearing loss might experience mild, moderate, moderately-severe, severe, or profound hearing loss, and it can vary across pitches and frequencies. The volume of the sounds we hear are measured in decibels (dB), with normal hearing thresholds for adults falling between 0 and 25 dB.

When our hearing ability falls above normal thresholds, hearing loss may be the cause. There are three main types of hearing loss:

  • Conductive Hearing Loss
  • Sensorineural Hearing Loss
  • Mixed Hearing Loss
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Conductive Hearing Loss

Conductive hearing loss occurs when there is a problem with the way sound is conducted to the inner ear or cochlea. The problem may lie in the outer ear (pinna or ear canal), eardrum (tympanic membrane), or the middle ear (ossicles and Eustachian tube). The inner ear remains unaffected in this type of hearing loss.

Advanced Audiology Institute Vegas Hearing AidsSome possible causes of conductive hearing loss are:

  • Fluid in the middle ear from colds
  • Ear infections
  • Allergies
  • Perforated eardrum
  • Impacted cerumen (earwax)
  • Benign tumors
  • Swimmer’s ear
  • Presence of a foreign body
  • Absence or malformation of the outer ear, ear canal, or middle ear
Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Sensorineural (sen-sory-nuhral) hearing loss occurs when there is a problem with the sensory receptors of the hearing system, specifically in the cochlea of the inner ear. The majority of sensorineural hearing loss occurs as a result of an abnormality or damage to the hair cells in the cochlea. This abnormality prevents sound from being transmitted to the brain normally, resulting in hearing loss.

Other possible causes of sensorineural hearing loss are:Advanced Audiology Institute Vegas Hearing Aids

  • Illnesses
  • Drugs that are toxic to hearing
  • Genetics
  • Aging (presbycusis)
  • Head trauma
  • Malformation of the inner ear
  • Exposure to loud noise

Sensorineural hearing loss is generally permanent and may stay stable or worsen over time. Routine hearing tests are needed to monitor the hearing loss. Amplification, including hearing aids, or cochlear implants in the most severe cases, is a common treatment recommendation. Individuals with sensorineural hearing loss may report muffled speech, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), difficulty hearing in background noise, or that others do not speak clearly.

Mixed Hearing Loss

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Mixed hearing loss occurs when a person has an existing sensorineural hearing loss in combination with a conductive hearing loss. It is, quite literally, a mix of sensorineural and conductive hearing losses. This means there is a problem in the inner ear as well as in the outer or middle ear. The conductive hearing loss may be temporary or permanent, depending on the source of the problem.

Mixed hearing loss can sometimes be treated with medical management, and hearing aids are a common treatment recommendation.

Types of Hearing Loss