Hearing Loss
There are three main types of hearing loss:
Conductive Hearing Loss, Sensorineural Hearing Loss…the terms can be confusing for non-health professionals.
Depending on the types of hearing loss, the management can be different. It is our job as an Audiologist to put our clients on the right path for the best outcome.
Here are the breakdowns of the cause and its management for each type of hearing loss.
1. conductive hearing loss
Sound is blocked in the outer or middle ear
Possible Causes:
Accumulation of earwax or presence of a foreign body
Ear infection (Otitis media) or Infection in the ear canal (External otitis)
Fluid in the middle ear as the result of a cold
Damaged eardrum or bones in the middle ear
Allergies
Eutachian tube functing poorly
Benign tumors
Absence or malformation of the outer ear, ear canal or middle ear
Possible Solution:
Most often medically or surgically treated with high success
Hearing aids very successful, if unable to treat medically
2. Sensorineural hearing loss
Inner ear hair cells or hearing nerve is damaged and cannot send complete signals to the brain.
Possible Causes:
Illness
Drugs that are toxic to hearing (Ototoxic)
Aging
Head trauma
Malformation of the inner ear
Noise Exposure (Can be normally covered by ACC)
Hereditary Factor
Possible Solutions:
Cannot be corrected medically or surgically
Can be treated with steroid very rarely, if the hearing loss happens suddenly (Must consult with ENT)
Often helped with hearing aids
3. Mixed hearing loss
Occurrence of conductive hearing loss in combination with a sensorineural hearing loss.
Possible Solutions:
Some portion of hearing loss may be corrected by medicine and surgery
Often helped with hearing aids