Types of Hearing Loss
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound cannot reach the inner ear because of a problem with the outer or middle ear. This can commonly be caused by ear wax (cerumen), outer ear infection (otitis externa), a hole in the eardrum (tympanic membrane perforation), negative pressure of the middle ear (Eustachian tube dysfunction) or fluid in the middle ear (otitis media).
Other causes include a tumor or cyst in the middle ear (cholesteatoma), damaged hearing bones (ossicles) due to chronic infections or stiffening of the joints of the ossicles (otosclerosis). Less common causes include abnormalities of the inner ear such as superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) or large vestibular aqueduct syndrome (LVAS).
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by a problem in the neural structures of the inner ear. This is the most common neurologic disability in the U.S.
Patients often report a history of hearing loss in the family, which suggests that genetics factor in to some cases of this hearing loss.
Mixed Hearing Loss
Mixed hearing loss is when a patient has a combination of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. There are many treatment options for improving and addressing hearing problems.
