It can be frustrating when you can no longer hear with as much clarity as you used to. It’s something that you instantly notice, so don’t ignore it. There are so many things that can cause hearing loss. Here are the common types of hearing loss and what might cause them. Read on to learn more.
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss refers to a problem that is in the canal of the ear, although it might also impact the middle ear or eardrum. It can refer to anything that stops sound making its way through to the inner ear. There are a range of things that can cause this. Firstly, it can be something simple such as a buildup of earwax. Or it could be an infection or even a tumour that is stopping sound getting through. If you think that this is your problem, visit Pacific Audiology. They will be able to get to the root of the problem. And they’ll then refer you to a specialist that can take on your treatment.
Mixed Hearing Loss
Mixed hearing loss is perhaps the worst type that someone can experience. It’s mixed because it refers to hearing loss in both the inner and outer or middle structures of the ear. However, the hearing loss that people experience as a result of this can be mixed. Some people see only small effects on their hearing, and those people can be helped with things like hearing aids. But other people suffer profound hearing loss, and the issue is often harder to treat due to the nature of mixed hearing. There is a combination of problems when you have mixed hearing. So, multiple treatments are often tested before the right balance is struck
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss can cause devastating hearing loss and, in some cases, deafness. This is a kind of problem is rooted in the inner ear. The cochlea and the associated structures are damaged with this kind of hearing loss. And it can also occur as a result of damage to the hair cells in the inner ear. The auditory nerve, the nerve that is responsible for hearing sometimes gets damaged too. Brain damage can also bring about a form of sensorineural hearing loss in some people. And it can also be caused by treatments such as chemotherapy too.
Common Causes
The most common cause of hearing loss is simply old age. As we get older, the structure inside your ear becomes less elastic, and this causes you to lose your ability to hear some sounds and frequencies. Sometimes, the cause of your hearing loss is not quite as straightforward as this though. For example, some people experience hearing loss as a result of being exposed to loud noises. This is most common among people who work in noisy places with heavy machinery. Nowadays, the hearing protection offered to workers is good, but in the past, this was not the case. Ear infections can also cause hearing loss as they can perforate the eardrum.
