Types of Hearing Loss
What Are the Types of Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss occurs when a part of the auditory system is not functioning the way it should be. Interested in learning more about the basics of hearing loss?
Contact us today at (775) 882-3277 to discuss your hearing loss options.
The three basic types of hearing loss include:
- Conductive hearing loss
- Sensorineural hearing loss
- Mixed hearing loss
Conductive Hearing Loss
This type of hearing loss is usually the result of an obstruction of the outer or middle ear that prevents sound transmission to the inner part of the ear. Causes of this type can include fluid or earwax stuck in the ear, tumors, objects that block the middle ear, and issues with the formation of the ear. Conductive hearing loss may cause soft sounds to be hard to hear and louder sounds may appear muffled.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
This is the most common form of hearing loss that is usually due to damage of the inner ear or nerves. This damage causes the transmission of nerve signals to the brain to be weakened, resulting in muffled sounds. The causes of this type include normal aging, exposure to loud noises, or genetic syndrome in children. Although this damage is usually permanent, the use of hearing aids is commonly used to improve hearing from sensorineural hearing loss.
Mixed Hearing Loss
This type of hearing loss is a combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss and occurs when a combination of damage to the outer, middle, inner ear, or nerve pathway happen at the same time. This type is often caused by the trauma of the ear or when one type of hearing loss builds on the other over a longer period of time. An example of mixed hearing loss would be sensorineural hearing loss from noise exposure combined with a wax buildup in the eardrum.
What are the Degrees of Hearing Loss?
- Mild: Mild hearing loss causes some speech issues and soft sounds will be hard to hear.
- Moderate: Moderate hearing loss causes difficulty in understanding the speech of a person talking at a normal level.
- Severe: Severe hearing loss causes the inability to hear speech at a normal level and only hear muffled sounds.
- Profound: Profound hearing loss causes the inability to hear any speech at all and only hear extremely loud sounds.
Book a Consultation
To book a consultation or to see if our team can help you find the best way to improve your hearing while wearing a face mask, please give us a call at (775) 882-3277 to schedule an appointment at one of our three locations.
Hearing aids are modern devices that enhance your life every day!
