The reasons for hearing difficulties can be simple or complex. Hearing loss can start at any time and can be tested from birth throughout life. If you are struggling to hear or have ear pain, pressure, fullness or ringing in your ears, it is important to seek medical attention and have a thorough hearing test.
Types of hearing loss
Hearing loss is commonly divided into three main types:
• Conductive–Conductive hearing loss is due to a problem in the outer ear, ear canal or middle ear that blocks or dampens sound waves. If you wear earplugs or earmuffs, you can simulate a conductive hearing loss. Common causes of this type of hearing loss include: fluid in the middle ear, earwax blocking the ear canal, a hole in the eardrum, damaged middle ear bones or growths in the ear canal or middle ear. Conductive hearing losses are more likely to be temporary and may be corrected medically or surgically. If medication or surgery does not work or is not appropriate, then hearing aids may be an option.
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• Sensorineural–Sensorineural hearing loss is due to a problem in the inner ear or the hearing nerve. “Sensorineural” hearing loss includes problems in the part of the ear called the cochlea, which is the sensory end organ for hearing, and/or the auditory nerve. Sometimes people who have this type of hearing loss also have balance difficulties because part of the inner ear (the semicircular canals) is important for balance. Sensorineural hearing loss may be due to illness/disease (including virus or bacteria), injury, medications, noise exposure, tumors, degenerative or auto-immune diseases, genetics or age-related changes. These hearing losses are more likely to be permanent. Depending on the degree of hearing loss, hearing aids or cochlear implants are options.
• Mixed– Mixed hearing loss is a combination of the conductive and sensorineural types. For example, someone who has a noise-induced hearing loss (sensorineural) who gets an ear infection with fluid in the middle ear (conductive) would have a mixed hearing loss.
A fourth, and less common, type of hearing loss is called central hearing loss. This is when the ear and hearing nerve work, but the brain has difficulty recognizing or interpreting sound. This usually occurs with other neurological conditions.
When to seek help
If you or a family member has sudden hearing loss, seek medical attention immediately. Consult with your physician immediately. Ear wax removal, treating specific conditions with medications and hearing devices are available after a diagnosis and further
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Kathryn Beauchaine is a clinical coordinator at Boys Town National Research Hospital, specializing in hearing evaluations and hearing aid fittings.