There are to common types of hearing loss that most people with hearing loss experience. Many people may suffer from a combination of both types. It is important to to understand both these types if you are experiencing hearing loss. I will atempt to describe the specific types of hearing loss. This information is important if you have a relative, friend or even child that is experiencing loss of hearing. You will be better equipt to understand treatment if understand the types of hearing loss.
Sensorineural loss in hearing occurs when there is an issue on the inside of the ear. This is often a result of nerve damage that is related to the auditory nerves. However, it can also occur if there is an issue with the inner ear in general. The cause of this type of hearing loss can often be found, but it is not a common occurrence. This type of auditory damage is often considered to be permanent. It is very rare that this hearing loss that can reversed. Many times, individuals who suffer from this specific type of hearing loss are unable to make out sounds that are loud and carefully defined. In these situations, a permanent device to increase hearing must be implemented.
Conductive hearing loss is hearing loss when a particular disease or medical condition blocks the sound that a person may hear. Normally the obstruction will occur in the middle of the ear. Many treatments can be used to help improve the sounds a person who suffer from this condition may be hearing. Medications can sometimes be prescribed to treat a specific medical condition. Other times the obstruction can be removed or certain parts of the ear may be replaced. Generally people who experience this type of hearing loss are able to regain their hearing.
Individuals that suffer from hearing loss that is considered to be mixed suffer from both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. There are treatments that can help to soothe the symptoms of this type of hearing loss. However, the doctor that handles this type of hearing loss will carefully review the medical history of the individual and then create a treatment based on that information. Treatments such as medication, cleaning procedures, and even hearing aids can help an individual who has mixed hearing loss.
Our ears have these two main functions; allowing us to both hear and maintain our balance. However, throughout the duration of a lifetime, the hearing function of our ears become worn out and less effective. In fact, one of three adults over the age of 65 has a hearing loss and half of seniors over the age of 75 have a hearing loss. Such loss is commonly due to over-exposure to noise, heredity or both.
The signs of hearing loss is normally relatively easy to detect:
1) If you notice everyone sounds muffled. 2) It is difficult to understand words. 3) You request others to speak more slowly, clearly or loudly. 4) Often need to turn up the volume on your TV or radio.
If you suffer from any of the above, combined with a desire to withdraw from conversations or avoid social settings, it is highly likely that you are suffering from a loss of hearing.
Most hearing loss results from damage to the cochlea ( a coiled structure in the inner ear responsible for hearing ). This loss is usually a result of prolonged exposure to loud noises of 85 decibel or higher. A decibel is the unit used to measure degrees of loudness and is often abbreviated to dB.
Other common causes of hearing are:
1) Ear infections. 2) Abnormal bone growths. 3) Tumors of the outer or middle ear. 4) Ruptured ear drums.
Other non-age related causes for deafness include Auditory Neuropathy, Meniere's Disease, Noise Ostosclerosis and Usher's Syndrome.
There are three basic types of hearing loss:
Type # 1 - Conductive Hearing Loss
This occurs when sound is not conducted efficiently to the middle ear, which may be caused by fluid, earwax, infection, foreign matter or malformation of the middle or outer ear.
Type # 2 - Sensorineural Hearing Loss
This condition occurs when there is damage to the inner ear ( cochlea ) or to the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain. Disease, birth injury, drugs or genetic syndromes can also be causes of Sensorineural hearing loss. Additional causes may include noise exposure, viruses, head trauma, aging and tumors.
A person suffering from this type of hearing loss may exhibit a lack of speech comprehension.
Type # 3 - Mixed Hearing Loss
Sometimes a person may suffer from conductive hearing loss combined with a Sensorineural hearing loss. This type of hearing loss is known as mixed hearing loss.
A person can have a loss of hearing in one ear or in both ears. The degree of the severity of hearing loss in each ear may be equal or disparate. The loss of hearing can either occur suddenly or over a long period of time.
Some people suffer from hearing losses that fluctuate and their condition may worsen or improve erratically. This is usually caused by an ear infection causing conductive hearing loss.
If you suspect you have a hearing problem, you should consult your health specialist to get a professional diagnosis and appropriate treatment for your condition.
Both Jf & Nicky Pilkington are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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