Understanding Hearing Loss

Hearing loss can be the result of damage to different parts of the ear. Some hearing losses can be corrected with medication or surgery.  Some can be helped with hearing aids.  Some can be helped with cochlear implants. Many can benefit from some Assistive Listening Devices.

Conductive hearing loss  is caused by a problem with the outer or middle-ear.  This includes wax/foreign objects in the outer ear, ear infections or fluid behind the eardrum, injury to the eardrum, injury or malformation of the bones in the middle ear, and absence of an ear canal opening (canal atresia).  Conductive hearing loss can usually be corrected with medication or surgery. 

Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by malformation or damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve. Most often, sensory cells in the inner ear have been lost or damaged. Sensory cells in the inner ear change sound into electrical signals which are sent on to the auditory nerve then interpreted by the brain. Distortion of sound may accompany sensorineural hearing loss.  Most people with sensorineural hearing loss can benefit from hearing aids or a cochlear implant.

Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss.