The most common type of hearing loss is sometimes called “sensorineural” or “nerve deafness.” A common age-related sensorineural loss primarily affects high-frequency sounds. This condition makes it difficult to understand the speech of women and children and leads to confusion of high-frequency consonant sounds such as “sh”, “f” and “s.” These are the people who say “I can hear, but I just can’t understand the words.” If you or someone you know seems to be suffering from the consequences of hearing difficulties, now may be the time to be evaluated by a hearing health care professional to determine the nature of the loss.
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive Hearing Loss is an interruption of sound caused by blockage or damage to the Outer and/or Middle Ear.
Causes Include
- Wax Buildup
- Perforated Ear Drum
- Damaged Middle Ear
Treatment
- Medical; such as wax removal or physician referral
- Hearing Aid Technology sometimes needed
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensorineural Hearing Loss is caused by permanent damage to the Inner Ear.
Causes Include
- Loud noise
- Trauma
- Aging / Genetic Inheritance
- Disease
Treatment
- Hearing Aid Technology
Mixed Hearing Loss
Mixed Hearing Loss is a combination of Sensorineural and Conductive Hearing Loss.
Mixed Example
- Wax Buildup and Damage to the Cochlea
- Middle Ear and Inner Ear Damage/Disease
Treatment
- Medical
- Hearing Aid Technology
Don’t wait; get your hearing checked today by a licensed audiologist. If you believe that you or someone you know may have one of these three types of hearing loss as described above, contact us today to schedule an appointment to get your hearing tested.