About Hearing Loss

There are three types of hearing loss - conductive, sensorineural and mixed.

1. Conductive hearing loss

Conductive hearing loss occurs when there is a blockage in the outer or middle ear, or both. This makes it difficult for sound waves to reach the cochlea (the part of the ear that converts sound waves into electrical signals to send to the brain). A conductive loss can be temporary in nature and in some cases may be treated medically or surgically. Hearing aids may also be prescribed for patients with a conductive hearing loss.

2. Sensorineural hearing loss

This occurs when there is a problem in the inner ear or the auditory nerve. The most common condition associated with a sensorineural hearing loss affects the hair cells in the ear that are responsible for picking up high-pitched sounds. This is referred to as presbyacusis or age-related hearing loss.

Damage to the hair cells can be a result of:

• Excessive noise exposure
• Meniere's Syndrome
• Diseases such as meningitis
• Ototoxic drugs (drugs with side effects that affect hearing)

Because sensorineural loss often affects the hair cells that detect soft, high-pitched sounds, it can be very difficult to hear speech clearly, especially when there is competing background noise. This type of loss is permanent, however it can usually be addressed with hearing aids.

3. Mixed hearing loss

When a conductive hearing loss occurs in combination with a sensorineural hearing loss, it is known as mixed hearing loss. Mixed hearing loss usually responds well to hearing aids, and other treatments to address the conductive component of the hearing loss may also be sought.

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