Are there different types of hearing loss?
Great question! The answer is YES.
You see, our ear systems are actually very complex.
Sound first travels into our ear canal, hits the ear drum, travels through the middle ear via vibration through the smallest bones in our body and then is pushed into our inner where those fancy little hair cells pick up the signal and transfer it to our brain.
Because there are so many steps to the mechanics of hearing, loss can be caused and interrupted in different parts of this system, by different things.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
This type of hearing loss is most common and all of us will experience it eventually in some capacity. Over time, the little hair cells in our cochlea slowly become damaged and are no longer able to pick up sound the way they used to. This process can be accelerated or worsened by disease and/or noise exposure. These little hair cells are also one of the few parts of the body that do not regenerate. This type of hearing loss is permanent and treated with hearing aids or other hearing technology.
Conductive Hearing Loss
Our ear system is quite complex. Before sound can make it to the inner ear, it has to travel through the outer and middle ear first. If there is anything impeding or blocking the sound from making it to your cochlea, this is called a conductive hearing loss. This could be a blockage like wax, fluid in your middle ear, the middle ear bones not moving correctly, along with other factors as well. Sometimes Conductive hearing loss can be treated with medication or surgery. Sometimes it’s recommended to treat Conductive hearing loss with hearing aids.
Mixed Hearing Loss
Mixed hearing loss is when someone has both Sensorineural & Conductive loss. Mixed hearing loss is typically treated with hearing aids or other hearing technology.
