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Types of Hearing Loss
There are 4 types of hearing loss:
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss occurs in the outer or middle ear. Often, it is due to an inflection, punctured eardrum, abnormal ear bone growth, or excessive buildup of earwax, all of which prevent sound from reaching the inner ear. In most cases, conductive hearing loss affects the lower frequencies or pitches and makes it difficult for the ear to hear vowel sounds. Conductive hearing loss is often temporary.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss (also known as nerve deafness) is the most common type of hearing loss. This type is caused by a deterioration or damage of the delicate "hair cells" of the inner ear. Sensorineural hearing loss may be due to the degenerative changes associated with the aging process, by hereditary hearing loss or noise-induced hearing loss. Once damaged the inner ear cannot repair itself. The sufferer may not hear high-pitched sounds and may have trouble distinguishing consonants. Most sensorineural hearing losses can be treated effectively with hearing instruments.
Mixed Hearing Loss
Mixed hearing loss contains both a conductive hearing loss and a sensorineural hearing loss.
HIHL (noise-induced hearing loss)
Noise-induced hearing loss is the type of loss of which 50% of all hearing impaired people suffer. NIHL is a sensorineural hearing loss that occurs because intense sound waves have damaged the delicate nerve endings of the inner ear. NIHL is permanent and may be helped with a hearing instrument.
Presbycusis
Presbycusis is a sensorineural hearing loss resulting from the aging process. The ear's tiny hair cells, which send electrical sound impulses to the brain, deteriorate over time.
