Characteristics of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is usually categorized as either sensorineural hearing loss or conductive hearing loss but hearing problems can also appear as a mixture of
these two main types. All of them are related to how much or to what degree
the ear can process sound.
As the name suggests, conductive hearing loss refers to the ability or non ability of the outer ear to conduct sound via the ear canal to the middle ear. This condition can often be temporary, for example as a result of a build up of wax in the ear or because the ear has become infected and inflamed. What causes the blocked ability to hear? Well it could be for any number of reasons the most common of which are things like the simple allergy or a cold (we are all familiar with that ‘blocked up’ feeling) which fills the ear with fluid and stops it performing so efficiently. Or the problem could be due to the existence of a benign tumor, a foreign object stuck in the ear or a perforated ear drum or fracture. These are the most common reasons.
In most cases you will find that this kind of hearing loss is treatable or can even clear up by itself. remember, whatever hearing problem you are experiencing, it is always best to get it checked by a doctor or health professional in order to choose the best method of treatment.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss then the condition is a little more serious than the case above. The term ‘neural’ relates to the nerves in the ear that lead to the hearing centre in the
brain and ’sensori’ refers to the way the nerve sensors work, or not, as the case may be.
In contrast to the outer or middle section of the human ear, if the inner, more sensitive part is damaged (that is, the cochlea or inner ear nerve pathway to the brain) the result will be permanent hearing loss. you may not reach the level of total hearing loss, yet nevertheless can experience great difficulty joining in anywhere near like a normal conversation.
Hearing impairment is not always down to old age alone because it can start quite early in life, even at birth as a result of injury or genetic inheritance. It can also happen any time as a consequence of taking medications where hearing loss turns up as one of the side effects, such as from taking certain diuretics or chemotherapy medications. The name given to this type of hearing problem is ototoxic hearing loss. Hearing impairment can also come about as a result of contracting a virus or disease such as rubella, meningitis or Meniere’s disease. Noise induced hearing loss comes as a direct result of being exposed to high levels of noise, usually over a prolonged period of time, which increases the wear and tear on the sensitive hair cells of the cochlea.
It may come about simply as a natural part of the aging process too and in this case the degenerative loss of hearing is categorised as presbycusis.When there is damage to both the outer middle ear and inner cochlea area where the auditory nerve does its work, then this type of hearing impairment is categorised as mixed hearing loss.
Measuring the degree of hearing loss is usually done by testing the threshold at which you can detect sound and this is measured in decibles. Normal hearing is around the 10-15 decible range, whereas profound hearing loss would be be recorded at over 90 decibles.
More tips, advice and information about all types of hearing loss, symptoms, causes and treatment is available at www.conductivehearinglossandtreatments.com
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