Millions of people across the world suffer from some level of hearing loss, whether mild or severe. Thankfully, advances in modern technology have allowed people to regain their ability to communicate with and listen to those around them. There are several different types of hearing loss, the most common of which is sensorineural hearing loss, also referred to as cochlear, inner ear, or nerve loss. After sensorineural hearing loss, the second most common type is conductive hearing loss. While less common, mixed and central hearing loss are the other types that people may suffer from.
Understanding the different types of hearing loss can be quite confusing, which is why we thought it would be helpful to provide you with a more in-depth look at each. If you have any questions about the information below or would like to set up an appointment with one of our ENT doctors to discuss your hearing, please do not hesitate to contact us today.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
“Sensorineural” refers to hearing loss that has to do with the thousands of tiny nerves that can be found inside the cochlea, or the auditory portion of the inner ear. More than 90% of individuals who wear hearing aids are suffering from this type of hearing loss. There are several different causes of sensorineural hearing loss, including the following:
- Age-related changes
- Noise exposure
- Inner ear blood circulation issues
- Some diseases
- Inner ear fluid disturbances
- Ototoxic medication
- Genetics
- Problems with the hearing nerve
- Smoking
When an individual is suffering from sensorineural hearing loss, it means that some of these small nerves are either missing or damaged. The nerves located inside cochlea take sound waves and send them to the brain, so if they are damaged or not working at all, some of that sound will not be able to reach the brain. The level of hearing loss will vary from very little to absolute deafness, depending on how many of the nerve cells have been affected.
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss happens when sound waves cannot get to the cochlea, for one reason or another. For many people who are suffering from this type of hearing loss, their ears may seem full or plugged. The causes of conductive hearing loss including the following:
- Earwax blocking the ear canal
- Fluid in the middle ear
- Middle ear infection
- Obstructions in the ear canal
- Deformations
- Perforations in the eardrum
- Disease of any of the three middle ear bones
In many cases, conductive hearing loss is temporary and can be resolved following medical treatment. However, this type of hearing loss may also be permanent if there is damage to any of the middle ear components.
Mixed Hearing Loss
Mixed hearing is exactly as it sounds: a combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. The causes of this type of hearing loss are a mix of the above listed reasons for sensorineural and conductive hearing loss.
Central Hearing Loss
This type of hearing loss takes place when the central nervous system is compromised for one reason or another. When this happens, the process of auditory stimulus may be affected, causing people to have difficulty understanding or processing sounds.
If you find yourself having a hard time understanding or hearing those around you and suspect you may be suffering from hearing loss, please contact Central Park ENT today. Our experienced audiologists will perform an examination of your ears and determine which type of hearing loss you are suffering from and suggest a treatment path appropriate for your specific needs.