Understanding the Different Types of Hearing Loss

Caused by many factors, hearing loss affects people of all ages. Studies have shown that there are three main types of hearing loss. These are sensorineural, conductive and mixed hearing loss. If you believe you are experiencing any type of hearing loss, it is advisable to visit an audiologist to evaluate your ear to determine which form of hearing loss is causing your symptoms. From there your audiologist will explain the type of hearing loss you have, and which treatment options will be right for the type of hearing loss you are experiencing.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

One type of hearing loss is sensorineural hearing loss. In some very rare instances, some forms of medication such as loop diuretics to treat heart disease and certain chemotherapy medication to treat cancer may cause hearing loss. Individuals experiencing sensorineural hearing loss may benefit from hearing aids. Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is injury to the nerve that connects the ear to the brain or inner ear – usually, this condition occurs due to the damage of the hair cells in the cochlea.

Conductive Hearing Loss

Conductive hearing loss mostly occurs when earwax or ear fluids accumulate in the ear canal. This condition can also occur when the bones in the middle ear or eardrum get damaged. This is generally known as ossicles. Damage to the middle ear can happen from anything as simple as putting a cotton swab too far into your ear, which can result in the rupturing of your eardrum. Sometimes, even an extremely loud noise like an explosion or a gunshot can damage the eardrum. In some instances, there may also be a congenital disability that prevents the passage of sound waves from getting into the ear to stimulate the acoustic nerve.

Some symptoms associated with this type of hearing loss include difficulty and frustration with phone conversations, a feeling that your voice sounds louder or different and a sensation of pressure in one or both ears. An individual dealing with this form of hearing loss has different options for treatment. These treatments may include earwax extraction or wearing hearing aids.

Mixed hearing loss

When both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss are present in the same individual, it is referred to as mixed hearing loss. This type of hearing loss occurs due to a variety of causes, such as aging, trauma to the ear, wax impaction or blast injuries. For example, an individual who has experienced conductive hearing loss for a long time may also develop age-related sensorineural hearing loss as they grow older. Another instance is when a person with age-related hearing loss experiences temporary mixed hearing loss from wax impaction. At times, traumatic events or injuries may cause both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss to occur.

If you believe you are experiencing hearing loss or want to get a hearing test, schedule an appointment with an audiologist. They will run hearing tests to see the type and severity of hearing loss you are experiencing. They will also explain the different styles of hearing aids that will benefit you.