Did you know that there are different types of hearing loss? What causes hearing loss? There are different types and causes of hearing loss. If you think you may have hearing loss, see a doctor of audiology to determine if you have hearing loss and what type of hearing loss you have.
There are three types of hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss comes from a problem in the outer or middle ear. Something is impeding the sound from being transmitted into the inner ear. Impacted wax, fluid in the middle ear, a hole in the eardrum, a foreign body in the ear canal, benign tumors, eustachian tube dysfunction, or malfunction of the little bones in the middle ear can all cause conductive hearing loss. Often conductive hearing loss can improve with medical treatment or surgery.
Sensorineural is by far the most common hearing loss and it is often referred to as “nerve hearing loss” or “nerve deafness.” This hearing loss comes from the cochlea, located in the inner ear. The cochlea, aka the organ of hearing, is a small snail-shaped organ filled with hair cells that move sound through the cochlea to the nerve that carries it to the brain. Sometimes some of the hair cells die. Normal aging, exposure to loud noise, trauma to the head, medications, and certain illnesses can cause sensorineural hearing loss.
Mixed hearing loss is when you have both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. An example of this might be if you worked around loud noise all your life and you have fluid in your middle ear. If the conductive part of the hearing loss can be treated medically or surgically, you may experience some improvement in hearing. Sensorineural loss is typically permanent and may be able to be helped with a hearing aid trial.
The Gardner Audiology hearing center in New Port Richey can evaluate your hearing and make recommendations for treatment. They work with most all insurances.
Call 1-800-277-1182 to schedule an appointment.
