Types of Hearing Loss

Sensorineural Hearing Loss:

It can occur gradually as you grow older. It is one of the most common conditions in inner ear affecting older and elderly people. It most often occurs in both ears and because the loss is gradual, you may not even realize that you have lost some of your ability to hear. Some of the possible causes of this type of hearing loss are Ageing, side effects of drugs specifically used for chemotherapy, exposure to loud sounds. This type of hearing loss can be treated with the help of hearing aids with modern technology.

Causes of sensorineural hearing loss

• Aging – Aging is a main cause of all types of hearing loss – and therefore also sensorineural hearing loss
• Noise exposure – Sensorineural hearing loss can be caused by loud noise exposure, which can lead to damage in the inner ear
• Genetic or hereditary conditions – Genetic sensorineural hearing loss may affect infants from birth or develop later in life
• Illnesses and conditions – Sensorineural hearing loss can be caused by several health conditions including: meningitis, Ménière’s disease, acoustic neuroma, multiple sclerosis, and malformation of the inner ear
• Drugs and medication – Sensorineural hearing loss can be a side-effect of certain medications and cancer treatment
• Head trauma – Injuries to the head can cause damage to the inner ear, which in turn causes sensorineural hearing loss
• Congenital and birth-related hearing loss – Injections during pregnancy, complications during birth, premature birth, and hereditary predispositions can all cause sensorineural hearing loss in newborns.

Treatment for sensorineural hearing loss
There is no cure for sensorineural hearing loss, but hearing aids can help people with sensorineural hearing loss to hear better. The best way to diagnose and treat sensorineural hearing loss is to visit a hearing professional for a full hearing evaluation.

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Conductive Hearing Loss:

Its usually caused by an obstruction in the outer or middle ear. It can happen in all age groups due to swelling, infection or a benign tumor, excessive wax in the ear and a sudden damage to the ear drum. This type of hearing loss is usually medically treatable and sometimes entirely curable.

What are the symptoms?
People with conductive hearing loss will find soft sounds difficult to hear at all pitches, both low and high.

Causes of conductive hearing loss

• Conductive hearing loss can be caused by the following factors: Accumulation of ear wax
• Otitis media – A middle ear infection
• Cholesteatoma – A growth in the middle ear
• Otosclerosis – An abnormal bone growth near the middle ear