Have you ever purchased one of those “one size fits all” t-shirts only to be dismayed (and surprised) when the shirt doesn’t, in fact, fit as advertised? It’s kind of a bummer, isn’t it? There aren’t really very many “one size fits all” with anything in the real world. That’s true with t-shirts and it’s also true with medical conditions, such as hearing loss. There can be a wide variety of reasons why it occurs.

So what’s the cause of hearing loss? And what’s the most prevalent type of hearing loss? Well, that’s precisely what we intend to explore.

Hearing loss comes in different forms

Everybody’s hearing loss scenario will be as individual as they are. Perhaps you hear perfectly well at the office, but not in a crowded restaurant. Or, maybe specific frequencies of sound get lost. Your hearing loss can take a variety of forms.

The underlying cause of your hearing loss will dictate how it manifests. Lots of things can go wrong with an organ as complex as the ear.

How does hearing work?

Before you can totally understand how hearing loss works, or what level of hearing loss requires a hearing aid, it’s helpful to consider how things are supposed to function, how your ear is generally supposed to work. Here’s how it breaks down:

• Outer ear: This is the visible portion of the ear. It’s where you are first exposed to a “sound”. Sounds are effectively funneled into your middle ear for further processing due to the shape of your outer ear.
• Middle ear: The eardrum and several tiny bones are what your middle ear is composed of (Yes, there are some tiny little bones in there).
• Inner ear: Your stereocilia are found hear. These fragile hairs detect vibrations and begin converting those vibrations into electrical signals. Your cochlea plays a role in this also. This electrical energy is then transmitted to your brain.
• Auditory nerve: This nerve is inside of your ear, and it’s responsible for channeling and directing this electrical energy to your brain.
• Auditory system: From your brain to your outer ear, the “auditory system” encompasses all of the elements discussed above. It’s essential to understand that all of these components are constantly working together and in concert with each other. In other words, the system is interconnected, so any problem in one area will usually affect the performance of the whole system.

Varieties of hearing loss

Because there are multiple parts of your auditory system, there are (as a result) multiple forms of hearing loss. Which type you develop will depend on the underlying cause.

The common types of hearing loss include:

• Conductive hearing loss: This kind of hearing loss occurs because there’s a blockage somewhere in the auditory system, frequently in the outer or middle ear. Usually, this blockage is caused by fluid or inflammation (when you have an ear infection, for instance, this typically occurs). A growth in the ear can occasionally cause conductive hearing loss. Usually, with conductive hearing loss, your hearing will return to normal as soon as the obstruction has been removed.
• Sensorineural hearing loss: When your ears are damaged by loud sound, the tiny hair cells which detect sound, called stereocilia, are destroyed. Normally, this is a chronic, progressive and permanent type of hearing loss. As a result, people are normally encouraged to avoid this type of hearing loss by wearing ear protection. Even though sensorineural hearing loss is irreversible, it can be effectively treated with hearing aids.
• Mixed hearing loss: It’s also possible to experience a combination of sensorineural hearing loss and conductive hearing loss. Because the hearing loss is coming from several different places, this can sometimes be difficult to treat.
• Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder: ANSD is a rather rare condition. It occurs when the cochlea doesn’t properly transmit sounds from your ear to your brain. A device known as a cochlear implant is usually used to treat this kind of hearing loss.

Each type of hearing loss requires a different treatment strategy, but the desired results are often the same: to improve or maintain your ability to hear.

Variations on hearing loss kinds

And that isn’t all! Any of these common types of hearing loss can be further categorized (and more specifically). For example, hearing loss can also be classified as:

• High frequency vs. low frequency: You might experience more difficulty hearing high or low-frequency sounds. Your hearing loss can then be categorized as one or the other.
• Progressive or sudden: You have “progressive” hearing loss if it gradually gets worse over time. Hearing loss that appears or shows up immediately is called “sudden”.
• Pre-lingual or post-lingual: If your hearing loss developed before you learned to speak, it’s called pre-lingual. If your hearing loss developed after you learned to talk, it’s known as post-lingual. This can have implications for treatment and adaptation.
• Congenital hearing loss: If you’re born with hearing loss it’s called “congenital”.
• Unilateral or bilateral hearing loss: It’s possible to develop hearing loss in one ear (unilateral), or in both (bilateral).
• Acquired hearing loss: Hearing loss that develops due to outside forces (like damage).
• Fluctuating or stable: Fluctuating hearing loss refers to hearing loss that comes and goes. Stable hearing loss remains at around the same level.
• Symmetrical or asymmetrical: This indicates whether your hearing loss is the same in both ears or unequal in both ears.

That might seem like a lot, and it is. But your hearing loss will be more effectively managed when we’re able to use these categories.

Time to get a hearing test

So how can you be sure which of these categories pertains to your hearing loss scenario? Self-diagnosis of hearing loss isn’t, unfortunately, something that’s at all accurate. For instance, is your cochlea working properly, how would you know?

But that’s what hearing examinations are for! It’s like when you have a check engine light on in your car and you bring it to a qualified auto technician. We can connect you to a wide variety of machines, and help identify what type of hearing loss you’re dealing with.

So the best way to determine what’s happening is to make an appointment with us as soon as you can!

Call Today to Set Up an Appointment

References

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hearingloss/types.html
https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/types-of-hearing-loss/