Hearing impairment or loss of hearing mainly falls into one of two main categories, which is either conductive hearing loss or sensorineural. However hearing loss can be a mixture of
these two main types. They all ultimately refer to how much or how well
the ear can process sound.
As the name suggests, conductive hearing loss refers to the ability or non ability of the outer ear to conduct sound via the ear canal to the middle ear. Hearing loss due to ear wax build up or a slight infection is temporary and often clears up naturally although you may need some medication for the temporary discomfort as long as it lasts. Other reasons for experiencing a reduced quality of sound with this condition might be either fluid in the ear, which itself often comes about as a symptom of a cold or an allergy, a perforated eardrum, or a blockage caused perhaps by a tumorous growth or something getting stuck in the ear or a fracture.
Most times hearing loss of this sort will either clear up by itself over time, may be treated with medications or ear washing, or may be treated by surgery. It is always best to get even mild to moderate conductive hearing loss checked by a doctor to get some advice on the best course of treatment.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss then the condition is a little more serious than the case above. ‘Neural’ is to do with nerves and the nerve pathways from the ear to the
brain and ’sensori’ refers to the way the nerve sensors work, or not, as the case may be.
Damage to the inner ear, as opposed to the outer or middle part, in the sensitive area of the cochlea or damage to the nerves themselves can result in a permanent loss that cannot be reversed. Although the degree of hearing loss may not be a complete loss the hearing left may nevertheless be of very poor quality and make it almost impossible to understand a normal conversation.
Sometimes this can happen very early in life, as in cases of injury at birth or it may be genetic or occur later as a side effect of certain drugs like the antibiotic streptomycin or high doses of aspirin. This kind of hearing loss is known as ototoxic hearing loss. Hearing impairment can also come about as a result of contracting a virus or disease such as rubella, meningitis or Meniere’s disease. High levels of noise, especially if continued over a period of time can damage the cochlea and its sensitive hair cells and lead, in the end result, to what is termed noise-induced hearing loss.
Presbycusis is the term used to describe hearing loss that occurs naturally with aging where the ear doesn’t perform as efficiently due to gradual wear and tear.Damage to the outer and middle ear, when combined with damage to the inner ear (where the cochlea and auditory nerve are situated) gives rise to the type of ear problem called ‘mixed hearing loss’. If the damage is in one ear only it is called ‘unilateral’.
The degree of hearing loss suffered is usually calculated by testing and matching to a threshold scale of decibels, with mild hearing loss typified at around 25-40 decibels, which is the threshold at which sound starts to be recognised, and profound hearing loss typified at over 90 decibels.
More tips, advice and information about all types of hearing loss, symptoms, causes and treatment is available at www.conductivehearinglossandtreatments.com
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