Do you think you might be experiencing hearing loss? Hearing loss is more common than most people realize. It can be due to old age, but there are also a variety of issues that can cause or worsen hearing loss. It is possible that you can develop problems with your hearing through your twenties or even earlier. When you speak to your audiologist, there are three different types of hearing loss that you could be diagnosed with. These are conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss and mixed hearing loss. Let’s explore these possibilities, so you know exactly what to expect.

Conductive hearing loss

Types of hearing loss are determined by the area of the ear that has been impacted. With conductive hearing loss, sound is unable to get through the outer and middle ear. With this type of hearing problem, soft sounds can be more difficult to hear while loud noises may seem muffled or hazy.

This type of hearing loss can have a wide variety of causes, which can impact treatment. An earwax impaction, infection or a build-up of fluid in the ears can all cause this type of hearing loss. It can also be due to a benign tumor or an anatomical defect that an individual has been born with.

Sensorineural hearing loss

This hearing loss is due to damage to the inner ear. This type of hearing loss is permanent and cannot be fixed with either surgery or medication. Instead, the only form of treatment will be hearing aids or potentially implants. It is the most common type of permanent hearing loss.

This type of hearing issue has a variety of causes. It’s possible that it develops due to age or damage from drug use. Loud noises can also cause this type of hearing loss, damaging the inner ear for good. If you notice that your hearing has been damaged due to loud noise, it’s often possible to limit the impact.

This can also be an issue caused by a trauma to the head, or it could be a medical issue that is genetic.

Mixed hearing loss

Mixed hearing loss, as you might have guessed, occurs when there is damage to the outer or inner ear and the middle ear. This can also be due to a problem with the nerve pathway to the brain.

Any issue that can cause the previous two conditions can trigger a problem with mixed hearing loss. For instance, you might have fluid in your ear from an infection, but you could also have damaged your ears due to loud noises. If this is the case, then an audiologist will typically diagnose you with mixed hearing loss. Mixed hearing loss will mean that while treatment will improve your hearing to a certain level, another aspect can only be helped by hearing aids.