Types Of Hearing Loss
Understanding the Types of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss doesn’t appear the same way for everyone. It can affect individuals in different ways, sometimes gradually, sometimes suddenly. It may arise from damage in different parts of the ear, including the outer, middle, or inner ear, and each type has unique causes, symptoms, and treatment pathways. The first step to identify the correct hearing care approach is to understand the types of hearing loss.
Be it easily treatable conductive hearing loss or underlying problems of the auditory nerve, identification of your hearing issue facilitates timely and effective remedies.
How is hearing loss classified?
Here are the three primary types of hearing loss, all at different points in the hearing pathway and having different options for reversibility and treatment:
- Conductive Hearing Loss: It is a type of hearing impairment in which the blockage or attenuation of sound occurs at the entrance to the inner ear. Causes may include a common infection or damage to the eardrum. It is treatable.
- Sensorineural Hearing Loss: It arises due to irreversible damage to the auditory or cochlea nerve and is the most common kind of hearing loss. It is usually permanent.
- Mixed Hearing Loss: This is a type of hearing loss where both conductive and sensorineural types are present, with the inner ear and outer/middle ear in tandem being affected.
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss takes place when the transmission of sound waves to the inner ear is blocked. This form normally affects the outer ear, the ear canal, or the middle ear. In a study, conductive hearing loss has been found to be present in about 30% of children with hearing loss.
Common causes include:
- Earwax buildup: Can clog the ear canal and reduce sound clarity.
- Ear infections: Often result in fluid buildup in the middle ear.
- Eardrum damage: Perforations from trauma or infection affect sound transmission.
- Otosclerosis: Abnormal bone growth in the middle ear.
Symptoms:
- Muffled or soft sounds
- Better hearing in quiet environments
- A feeling of fullness in the ear
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
This is the most common type and results from damage to the cochlea or auditory nerve. It is usually permanent.
Causes include:
- Aging (presbycusis): Natural degeneration of inner ear hair cells
- Loud noise exposure: Damages sensory cells in the cochlea
- Head trauma or illness: Such as meningitis or autoimmune disease
- Genetics: Inherited forms of deafness
Symptoms:
- Trouble understanding speech, especially in noisy places
- Sounds may seem distorted or unclear
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Mixed Hearing Loss
Mixed hearing loss occurs when both conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss are present.
Common reasons:
- An individual with age-related hearing loss (sensorineural) develops an ear infection (conductive)
- Chronic ear infections that eventually cause nerve damage
Common reasons:
- Reduced sound clarity AND volume
- Difficulty understanding speech and detecting softer sounds
Conductive vs Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Key Differences
| Feature | Conductive | Sensorineural |
|---|---|---|
| Affected Area | Outer/Middle Ear | Inner Ear/Nerves |
| Common Causes | Wax, infections, eardrum damage | Aging, noise, genetics |
| Sound Quality | Sounds are muffled | Sounds are distorted or unclear |
| Reversibility | Often reversible | Usually permanent |
| Treatment | Medical/surgical | Hearing aids, cochlear implants |
Severity Levels: Mild, Moderate & Profound Hearing Loss/ Deafness
Hearing loss is categorized based on decibel (dB) thresholds:
- Mild (26–40 dB): Difficulty hearing soft speech or distant conversations
- Moderate (41–70 dB): Trouble hearing normal speech, especially in noise
- Severe (71–90 dB): Only loud speech is understood
- Profound (>90 dB): May only hear very loud sounds or none at all
What Type of Hearing Loss Do You Have?
Understanding the type of hearing loss is critical to finding the right solution. If you are experiencing any symptoms, consider getting a personalized hearing evaluation from Quality Hearing Care. A professional hearing evaluation at QHC includes:
- Pure tone audiometry
- Tympanometry (middle ear check)
- Speech recognition testing
Learn More About Hearing Loss
Visual Cards Section with hover descriptions linking to:
- Signs and Symptoms
- Causes of Hearing Loss
- Untreated Hearing Loss
- Types of Hearing Aids
FAQs
The four main types of deafness include conductive, sensorineural, mixed hearing loss, and central auditory processing disorders. Each type affects hearing in different ways and requires distinct treatment approaches.
The most common types of hearing loss are conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, and mixed hearing loss, depending on whether the outer, middle, or inner ear is affected.
Hearing loss refers to reduced hearing ability that ranges from mild to severe. Deafness is usually a profound or complete hearing impairment with minimal or no hearing ability.
The four levels of hearing loss/ deafness include mild (26–40 dB), moderate (41–70 dB), severe (71–90 dB), and profound (>90 dB), affecting how well a person can detect and process sound.
Moderate conductive hearing loss means sound between 41–70 dB is harder to detect due to blockages or dysfunction in the outer or middle ear. It’s often treatable through medical or surgical intervention.
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