For all of us, hearing is one of the most important senses we use in everything we do and even a partial loss of hearing can have a massive affect on the way we go about our lives. While normally, hearing loss is caused by sustained injuries due to a number of causes, anybody at any time in their lives can suffer from hearing loss as it can also be caused by genetic abnormalities that only become apparent at a certain stage in our lives. The most common cause of hearing loss that is likely to affect most of us is aging. While it is quite simple to identify hearing loss, only a trained specialist will be able to deduce what specific kind of hearing loss is apparent and what it was caused by.
While there are varying degrees of hearing loss, there are only 3 main types depending on what part of the ear is affecting the loss of hearing. Sensorineural hearing loss is the name given to a disorder that affects the nerves leading to the ear from the brain, and the inner ear up to the ear drum. Conductive hearing loss describes any kind of hearing loss that is caused by damage or blockage in any area of the middle and outer ear. Mixed hearing loss is the name given to a disorder that comprises of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss.
Blockage to the middle and outer ear that prevents or restricts sound from reaching the ear drum is known as conductive hearing loss. This type of hearing loss is most commonly caused by infection, massive ear wax build up, or a cold. Other, more serious conditions are caused by things such as tumors, perforated ear drums or damage to the Eustachian canal. Treatments vary depending on the particular condition, though conductive hearing loss is generally easier to treat than sensorineural hearing loss.
Sensorineural hearing loss is the category assigned to problems with the inner ear, specifically the cochlea and the nerves that leads to the brain. Damage to this area of the ear can result from a number of means, including prolonged exposure to loud music, aging, genetic deformities or brain trauma. Ultimately sensorineural hearing loss is most commonly due to abnormalities in the hair cells situated in the cochlea, and treatments and recovery rates vary wildly.
Mixed hearing loss is categorized when a combination of conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss is experienced. This kind of hearing loss usually happens as a result of an injury to the ear or when some other form of trauma is experienced. As treatment for sensorineural hearing loss is difficult to administer and vast improvements are unlikely, doctors tend to focus their attention on treatment for conductive hearing loss instead, in this situation.
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