There are 3 main types of hearing loss. They are conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, and central auditory processing disorders. Let's examine all three types.
Conductive hearing loss is what happens when sound can not be conducted efficiently from the middle and outer ear into the inner ear. It is an obstruction of the sound path when sound is blocked and not carried to the inner part of the ear. This commonly happens when something is blocking the ear. Some blockage items are a foreign body, cerumen, and fluid from ear infections, colds, or allergies. Otitis media and otosclerosis can also cause conductive hearing loss. Different types of damage to your ear will cause conductive hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss will result in not being able to hear faint sounds and you will have an overall decline of hearing. This type of hearing loss can be treated through surgery or medicine and is the easiest type of hearing loss to treat.
Sensorinueral hearing loss occurs when your inner ear is damaged or the nerve pathways from the inner ear to brain is damaged. This means sound level is reduced, and it is harder to hear faint sounds. It can also affect your ability to hear and understand speech. There are many different causes of this type of hearing loss including diseases, birth injury, drugs and genetic syndromes. It also can occur as a result of noise exposure, viruses, head trauma, aging and tumors. This hearing loss cannot be treated and is a permanent loss. Sensorinueral hearing loss can occur with conductive hearing loss and is referred to as a mixed hearing loss.
Central auditory processing disorder is more related to a problem with the brain and does not involve hearing loss. It can cause processing disorders but it cannot cause deafness. The reason for this is that central auditory processing disorder affects only one side of the brain while hearing disorders affect both sides of the brain....