Types Of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is as varied as the people it affects.

Our ears are incredibly complex. Any noise, loud or soft, near or far, is picked up and interpreted at lightning speed, yet if any section of our ears isn’t working quite right, it can have a huge impact on our hearing ability. While hearing loss can take many forms, it’s essential for this intricate pathway to function correctly.

Click here to learn more about how the ear works.

How Do I Know if I Have a Hearing Loss?

Do you frequently ask others to repeat?
Do you find it hard to follow conversations in crowds, noisy places, or on the phone?
Do you have difficulty understanding television or do others complain about the volume of your TV?
Do you sense that others seem to mumble?
Do you have more difficulty understanding women and children than men?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have a hearing problem.

It is important to get your hearing checked by a licensed professional who can help determine the cause of your loss. A visual check of your ear canal and ear drum is a must. Ruling out a bone conduction loss is something that only a licensed professional can do. Note: If you have experienced a sudden hearing loss, please seek medical attention immediately.

Let our highly skilled team of hearing professionals give you a FREE, No Obligation hearing test. A thorough hearing evaluation will determine if your hearing loss is wax buildup, medically related, or if hearing aids are indicated. In the event hearing aids are of benefit, you receive a FREE trial on all our products.

What works for one patient may not work for another, so that’s why we take a customized approach to your care. Our hearing evaluations are designed to diagnose exactly which part of your ear isn’t functioning and thus allows us to create the most appropriate treatment plan for your needs. There are four main types of hearing loss – keep reading to see how they might affect you.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

The most common type of hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss occurs due to a problem with the inner ear or auditory nerve. It presents itself when either the auditory nerve or the hair-like cells in the cochlea have sustained damage or are missing. This results in the inability to send complete nerve signals to the brain.

This kind of hearing loss can be caused by the following:

Head trauma
Illnesses
Drugs that are toxic to hearing (ototoxicity)
Genetics or aging
Malformation of the inner ear
Exposure to loud noise
Aging

Conductive Hearing Loss

Although rather uncommon and typically temporary, a conductive hearing loss can occur in some patients. It’s caused when an issue in the outer or middle ear blocks sound from the inner ear. Treatment involves the use of medication or surgery while other individuals opt to use hearing aids to improve their hearing ability.

Conductive hearing loss can be caused by:

Ear infections
Benign tumors
Swimmer’s Ear
Foreign object in the ear
Fluid in the middle ear from colds or allergies
Absence or malformation of the outer ear, ear canal, or middle ear
Allergies
Perforated eardrum
Impacted cerumen (earwax)

Mixed Hearing Loss

When multiple parts of the ear’s anatomy are damaged, a mixed hearing loss can occur. In most cases, both the middle or outer ear along with the auditory nerve or inner ear have sustained an injury of some type or have encountered one of the conditions listed above. The conductive hearing loss present may be reversible while the sensorineural hearing loss is often permanent.

Auditory Processing Disorders

Rather than a hearing impairment which affects the ability to detect sounds, Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) causes individuals to struggle with their ability to organize, analyze, and interpret noises around them. While all parts of the ear are functioning properly, those with APD find that the hurdle they encounter is in their brain. Often caused by a tumor, disease, injury, heredity, or an unknown cause, the auditory processing centers in the brain do not function normally. APD does not always include hearing loss and many times the treatments for this disorder versus a hearing impairment are dramatically different.

Our expertise in the hearing industry spans over 40 years. We have been serving the Gulf Coast since 1984. Remember, you have nothing to lose and better hearing to gain! Call Today.

Hearing loss doesn’t have to take over your life.

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